l'r^(p/^//f 



OiM- 



-A 



ANNUAL REPORT 



OF THE 



GI-E]SrE:P2,^L ^O-EISTT 



FOR THK 




OF THK 



STATE OF NEW YORK. 



TRANSMITTED TO THE LEGISLATURE APRIL 14, 1866. 




.'•■•v 



ALBANY: 

C. WENDELL, LEGISLATIVE PRINTER, 

1865. 



^ 









m-dt of IHi! iorli 



ISTo. 83. 



^pril 14, 1865. 



ANNUAL REPOUT 



OF THE GENERAL AGENT FOR THE RELIEF OF SICK AND 
WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 



1 



STATE OF NEW YORK : 

Executive Department, 

Albany, Api^il 14, 1865, 
To the Senate : 

I transmit herewith the Annual Report for the year 1864 of the 
General Agent of the State, appointed under the act for the 
relief of sick and wounded soldiers. 

R. E. FENTON. 



To His Excellency Horatio Seyiviour, 

Governor of the State of New YorJc : 
Sir— Pursuant to section one of chapter 224 of the Laws of 
1863, I herewith submit reports for the year 1864 of the several 
agencies established out of this State for the relief of its sick and 
wounded soldiers in the United States service. 
Very respectfully yours, 

JOHN F. SEYMOUR, 

General Agent for the Relief of 

8ick and Wounded Soldiers 

of the State. 
Albany, December, 1864. 



[Senate, No. 83.] 



^ 



REPORT. 



By chapter 224 of the Laws of 1863, the Governor of this 
State is authorized to appoint suitable agents, whose duty it shall 
be to provide additional means of relief for the sick, wounded, 
furlouo-hed and discharo;ed soldiers of this State, who shall have 
been or are now engaged in the United States service, while 
being transported to and from their homes; to ascertain the 
names and condition of all patients belonging to this State in the 
United States hospitals; to keep a I'egister of the same; to 
furnish infoi'matiou to all who make inquiry concerning them; to 
facilitate the removal of the bodies of deceased soldiers, and to 
perform such other duties for the relief of the sick and wounded 
soldiers of this State as the Governor may designate and require; 
and to make reports to the Governor of their transactions and 
expenditures with vouchers duly verified on oath. The Governor 
is also authorized by said act to appoint such number of surgeons 
and other agents as from time to time may be required for the 
care, comfoi't and removal of the sick and wounded soldiers of 
the State. To carry this act into effect, the sum of two hundred 
thousand dollars was appropriated to be paid on the order of the 
Governor aud disbursed under his direction, together with an 
unexpended balance of $14,820.53 of a prior appropriation for 
these purposes. 

In pursuance of this law the following agencies have been 
established, namely: 

No, 1. The WASHmaiON' Agency, under Cols. Samuel North and 
John Bradley; Dr. James L. Babcock, medical direc- 
tor, assisted by Drs. J. Dwinnell, J. S. Mosher, J. G. 
Mosher and Mr. Andrew J. Chesebro; G. B. Scofield, 
J. IL Keyes, S. V. Reeve and others, assistants and 
clerks in the office; Mrs. Scofield, Miss Brown, Miss 
Kip, Mrs. Thayer, Miss Wood, Mrs. Lyons, Mr. and 



4 REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

Mrs. Jones, as hospital visitors. During the campaign 
of last summer, temporary assistance was rendered by 
the following persons : Drs. E. Odell, Douglas, M. M. 
Bagg, E. H. Thayer, Eev. P. H. Fowler, Mr. Merritt 
Peckham, Miss Margaret Rockwell and Miss Meeker, of 
Utica; Drs. B. B. Fredenbergh, John Babcock and Mr. 
J. E. Nott, of Albany; Ambrose Cram, George W. 
Parsons, N. C. Bradstreet, of Rochester; Drs. Geo. W. 
Cook, Geo. Lawter, Thos. Radigan, O. E. Wainwright, 
N. J. Van Groesbeeck, Galen Wilson, of Syracuse. 

No. 2. The Alexandria Agency, under Dr. Walter B. Coven- 
try, John Callahan, Daniel Bryan, Mrs. Webb, Mrs. 
Hubbard. 

No. 3. The Tempoeart Agency at Fredericksburg, under Mr. 
Calvin G. Beach, of Albion; H. D. Brownell, of Sau- 
quoit. 

No. 4. The Temporary Agency at Belle Plain, under Drs. 
James L. Babcock, Lewis Post, of Lodi; Dr. Stephen 
H. Maxson, of Cuba; Drs. J. K. Chamberlayne, J. N. 
Goff, of Cazenovia. 

No. 5. The Agency in the Army of the Potomac, under the 
charjre of the Rev. J. V. Van lugen and Mrs. R. H. 
Spencer. 

No. 6. The Teimporary Agency in the Valley of Shenandoah, 
• under Dr. J. E. West and Harvey P. Perry, of Utica. 

No. 7. The Norfolk Agency, under Dr. Theodore Dimon, of 
Auburn. 

No. 8. The Baltimore Agency, under M. J. Ferry, G. M. Mun- 
dy and Drf. Goff and Maxson. 

No. 9. The Harrisburg Agency, under Dr. Lewis Post. 

No. 10. The Philadelphia Agency, under Rev. David MaliUj 
James Ed2;ar and Dr. J. E. West. 

No. 11. The Agency at New Orleans, under Dr. D. L. Rogers 
and Col. Jas. Grant. 

No. 12. The Agency at Buffalo and the Southwest, under 
charge of Horatio Seymour, Jr., of Buffalo. 

No. 13. The Louisville Agency, under charge of Wm. S. Park- 
hurst. 

No. 14. The Nashville Agency, under charge of Mrs. H. C. May. 
In order to a full appreciation of the labors performed and good 

accomplished by the agencies I have enumerated, I submit here- 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 5 

with reports from each agenc}'-, and I ask for each report a careful 
perusal. 

In addition to these local agents, couriers have been placed npon 
the principal trains between Washington and New York city, not 
only for the care, comfort and removal of the sick and Avounded 
soldiers to the New York State Soldiers' Depot, where they are 
cared for witlaout charge, but also for the protection of furloughed 
and discharged soldiers against the imposition of runners and 
swindlers. 

A station agent has also been placed in the railroad depot at 
Washington to aid in the care and protection of our soldiers. 

The New York State Soldiers' Depot at New York city, which 
I am informed has pi'ovided for more than seventy thousand 
soldiers of our own and other states, has also been maintained out 
of the same appropriation. 

The assessments made upon tliis State for her share of the 
national cemetery at Gettysburg, have also been paid, amounting 
in all tlius far to $6,520. 

Seven thousand dollars have been contributed out of this fund 
for the support of the Soldiers' Home at Elmira, and five hundred 
dollars to the Soldiers'Kest at Buffalo. 

Besides maintaining these important and extensive agencies and 
the State Soldiers' Depot at New York, supplies have l)een sent 
to our armies at Harpers' Ferry, Hilton Head and at City Point. 

The following acknowledgments from officers and soldiers will 
gratify all those whose sympathies are roused by the cleprivatioua 
and sufierings of our soldiers : 

Camp of the 147th N. Y. Vols., near Peters- 
burg, Va., August ]2th, 1864. 
To John F. Seymour, General Agent JSf. Y. Soldiers' Rdief : 

Dear Sir — We, the undersigned, officers of the 147th New Yoi-k 
volunteers, desirous of making some acknowledgment for dona- 
tions of lemons, crackers, can fruit and other supplies received at 
the hands of your agent, Mrs. R. H. Spencer, respectfully tender 
3'ou our thanks. It is gratifying to us, and cheering and reviving 
to the men in our command, to receive these tokens of remem- 
brance from our own State, and at the present time, after the hard- 
ships and privations of the last few Aveeks, these donations are 
doubly welcome. We have received no pay for five months. 
During three months of this time we have been constantly on 
duty, and always in the front ranks, never in reserve, and Avhcn in 



6 EEPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

our greatest need, worn and weary, your agent comes to ns with 
tokens of remembrance from our own homes, sent by the execu- 
tive of our own State, the gift is duly prized and fully appreciated. 
With pride we look up to our flag, as it waves the motto "Excel- 
sior," and know that the empire State has not forgotten her sons, 
and as she never has, we believe she never will have cause to blush 
for their deeds. 

Respectfully yours, 
GEORGE HARVEY, Lieut.-Col. Ulth JY. Y. V., 

commandinq Regiment, 
JAMES A. McKINLEY, Oapt. Co. F, 
VOLNEY J. PIERCE, Capt. Co. D, 
ALEX'DER R. PENFIELD, Oapt. Go. H, 
GEORGE HUGUNIN, Capt. Co. B, 
WILLIAM J. GILLETT, Capt. Co. G, 
HENRY H. HUBBARD, Capt. Co. C, 
JOSEPH DEMPSEY, Capt. Go. K, 
JAMES COREY, Capt. and Act. Quar. Master, 
JAMES W. KINGSLEY, 1^^ Lieut. Co. B, 
RICHARD ESMOND, Ut Lieut. Co. H, 
EDWIN M. SPERRY, 1st Limt. Co. (7, 
LANSING BRISTOL, \st Lieut. Co. E, comd'g, 
JOHN G. BERRY, \st Lieut. Co. D, 
WILLIAM KINNEY, 2d Lieut. Co. A, 
WILLIAM SULLIVAN, 2d Lieut. Co. I, 
WILLIAM A. WYBOURN, 1st Lieut. Co. 7, 
JOEL A. BAKER, 2d Lieut. Co. F, comd'g, 
J. T. STILLMAN, Assistant Surgeo7i, 
ALEX. KING, 1st Lieut. Co. L), 
EDWARD LAWLOR, 1*^ Lieut. Co. F, 
JOHN McKINLOCK, Cajot. Co. A, 
JOHN N. BEADLE, Lieut, and Acting Adjutant, 
FRANK P. BEAKR, 2d Lieut. Co. G. 

Headquaktees Pontoon Train No. 1, \ 

FiEST Battalion Fiftieth N. Y. V. Engineers, ^ 
Camp near City Point, Virginia, August 27, 1864. J 
Hon. John F. Seymour, Albany, ISf. Y. : 

Sir — I am happy to acknoAvledge the receipt, on the 26th inst., 
from the State agency of the State of Ncav York, through Mrs. R. 
n. Spencer, of the following articles for the benefit of the officers 
and men of my command : 

Two barrels of potatoes, one barrel of beets, one barrel of tur- 
nips, one barrel of onions, two-thirds of a barrel of sour-krout, one 
case of canned tomatoes, one case of horse radish, one box of 
lemons. 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 7 

The small quantity of vegetables isued by the commissary de- 
partment, and the sanitary condition of my command just at this 
time, render the donation doubly acceptable, and the donors may 
be assured of the sincere gratitude of all parties benefitted. 
Most truly your obedient servant, 

W. V. VERSONIUS, 

Captain Commanding. 

Ninth Army Corps Hospital, ) 

CiTT Point, Virginia, August 29, 1864. j 
Mrs. Spencer : 

We, the undersigned, wish to acknowledge onr thanks for the 
articles that we received from you, that were sent from New 
York State for the benefit of sick and wounded soldiers at this 
hospital, and we feel proud to think the Empire State is not be- 
hind in furnishing articles that are so much needed by the brave 
soldiers that have come here to fight for the cause of our country, 
and we wisli to acknowledge, through you, our most sincere 
thanks to Mr. John F. Seymour, New York State agent, for for- 
warding supplies to this department. 

SAMUEL TAYLOE, U JV. Y. M. R., Co. B. 
CHARLES BAREIER, 2Uh JV. Y. Cavahnj. 
CHARLES TRALL, 2cZ N. Y. M. R., Co. B. 
JOHN ROB, \Uh Heavy Artillery. 

Headquarters Battery "L," 1st N. Y. Art., ? 
Before Petersburg, Va., Aug. 8, 1864. \ 

Mrs. R. H. Spencer, Agent New York State Sanitary Relief: 

Madam— Accept my thanks, and the thanks of the men of my 
command, for the timely donations of crackers, can-fruit and meats 
sent us to-day. Words will scarcely express the gratification of 
our men on the receipt of the delicacies. We value them, not so 
much for their intrinsic worth — though favors ever so small are 
thankfully received by troops in the field — but the fact of their 
reaching us just in the time of need, when the men were worn out, 
and for the want of their pay nearly disheartened ; and, more 
than all, these things are prized as an evidence that the benevolent 
of the Empire State bear us in remembrance. Through you, we 
tender our most hearty thanks to the Governor, who sends us 
these supplies, and wish you to assure him that, as heretofore, we 
shall continue to bear our motto " Excelsior " throuo;h the thickest 



8 REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

of the fight — ever in the front rank — and, as our corps commander 
says, " always reliable." 

Eespectfully your friend, 

GEORGE BRECK, 

Captain Battery " jL," 1st N. Y. L. Artillery. 

Neae City Point, Va., Aug. 6, 1864. 
Mrs. E. H. Spencee, Agent JV. Y. S. Sanitary Commission : 

Allow me in behalf of Co. L, 8tli N. Y. Cavalry, the pleasure of 
returning our sincere thanks for your prompt attention and com- 
mendable zeal in supplying said company with much needed arti- 
cles of clothing, canned milk, canned fruit, vegetables, meats, 
pickle?, lemons, dried fruits and tobacco. 

The deprivation of the liberal rations we receive when in camp, 
with the many hardships we have to perform when on duty, at the 
extreme front, render many a rugged soldier unfit for any duty 
whatever. To receive such articles of comfort and luxury, when 
nature is fast sinking for the want of proper nourishment, is of 
more benefit to the debilitated soldier than all the medicine the 
surgeon's case contains. 

Thanking you for your personal kindness, we would not forget 
the '' loved ones at home," who place the means into the hands of 
the Sanitary Commission for distribution — they, too, have our 
heartfelt gratitude and best wishes. Could each donor know from 
experience the benefit his or her contribution confers upon their 
defenders, we think their contribiitions, great and noble as they 
are, would be more than double, and the labor of the mothers and 
sisters in preparing articles of clothing, grow lighter by the good 
such an experience would impart. Trusting that the Giver of all 
Good will awaken all people to a sense of their duty in this mat- 
ter, thereby increasing the good that is now being accomplished, 
until the wants of each needy soldier can be alleviated, please 
accept our united wishes for your welfare and prosperity. 

MORTIMER HENDERSHOTT. 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 



Report of the distribution of $1,000 ivorth of supplies sevt to the care of 
Dr. J. B. Brinton, A>;sist. Surg..U. S. A., Med. Purveyor A. of P., by 
John F. Seymour, Esq., Gen. Agent N. Y. Soldiers Relief. 



Date. 


To whom issued, &c. 


C3 
O 

a 


m 

ID 

to 

B 

a 
O 


2 

g 


a 

CJ 

o 


t 

a 

a 


2 
o 


July 30.. 


Received at City Point 


Boxes 
10 


Boxes 
10 


Bbls. 
20 


Boxes 
50 


Bixes 
12 


Boxea 
13 


Issued to 4t.h Div. 5th A. C. Hosp... 
2d Brig. 1st Div. 5th A. C. 

147th Reg'tN.y.V 

95th Reg't N. Y. V 

7()thReg t N.y. V 

Asst. Bi-ig. 5th A. C. Hosp. 
Battery a, 1st N. Y. Art.. 
93d N.Y. Vols 




31.. 
August 1 . . 
3.. 
4.. 
4.. 
4.. 


3 


3 

2 

i 

1 

1 
1 


2 

1 
1 
1 


6 

4 
4 
4 
4 


1 


1 


2 
2 
2 


2 
2 
2 


4.. 

4.. 


1 


4 
3 
3 
5 
1 
1 
1 
3 


i 


1 


5.. 


2d Div. 5th A. C. Hospital, 
30th, 6th and 9th N.Y. Cav. 
8th N. Y. Cavalry 


1 


' 2 






6.. 




2 


6.. 








6. 


22d N. Y. Cavalry 












6.. 


4th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, 
24th N. y. Cavalry 












8.. 






2 
1 
1 

1 
7 


1 


10.. 


Battery L 1st N. Y. Art. . . 








10.. 


3d Div. 5th A. C. Hospital, 
2d N.Y. Rifles 













11.. 












12.. 








7 


4 


2 














10 


10 


20 


50 


12 


13 



10 



REPORT OP THE GENERAL AGENT 



Abstract of Receipt and Bistribvtion of Vegetables, Can Fruit, Lemons, 
Pickles, Sour Krout, etc., received from Horatio Seymour, of Buffalo, 
N. Y., agent N. Y. Relief, August mh, 1864. 



Received. 



Bistrihuted. 

6th Corps General Hospital, City Point, 

2d do do do 

Sth do do do 

Cavalry Corps Hospital, City Point. . 

Oneida Cavalry, :>0 men, Capt. D. P 
Mann, commanding 

2d Brig. 2d Div. 2d A. C, composed 
of the lfi4th, 166th, 170th and (i9tb 
Vols., and 8lh N.Y. Heavy Art.. 

l?9th N. y. Vols., and 14th New York 
Heavy Artillery 

2d Brig. 1st Div. 5th Corps— all Penn- 
sylvania troops 

28th Regt. U. S. Colored troops, in th 
field 

filst N. Y. Vols, in the field 

Christian Commission at General Field 
Ho.spital 

Stewards and Clerks at Medical Direc- 
tor's office 

121st N.Y'. Vols, in the field , 

C5th N. Y. 'X'ols. do detachment 

122d N. Y. Vol.s. and 121st N. Y.Vols 
detachment 

50th N. Y. Eng. in the field 

1st N. Y. Light Art. in the field 

63d N. Y. Vols, and Amts' Battery in 
the field 

2d Div. 2d A. C. Field Hospital at the 
front 

120th N. Y. Vols. Lt. Col. Tappan at 
the front 

147th, 96th and 7fith N. Y. Vols, 
same brigade at the front 

Irish Brigade, 1st Div. 2d Corp<, at the 
f ron t 

lOthN. Y. Cavalry 

4th Div. 5th Corps, Field llo.'pital... 

15th N. Y. Heavy Art. at the Iront... 

Stewards and Clerlis in Wed. Pnrv'rs 

Distributed from tent to individuals.. 



250 



15 
20 
22i 
15 



100 



10 

H 



12 



12 

5 
5 
H 

2 



125 



7 

13 
1 



12i 
2J 



2 

12 

10 

10 

5 

5 
2 

74 



60 



24 



c 




O) 


tn 




c 






W 


o 



9000 



ZOO 

90C 



100 

900 
500 



300 



100 
100 

200 

ioo 

200 

SCO 

500 

1500 

900 
500 
600 
300 
200 
400 



120 



12 



12 



260 100 125 50 9000 120 192 480 240 240 540 



192 480 



12 



72 



24 



52 



25 



12 



24 



a 

240 



12 



24 



240 



12 



24 



24 



15 



I have estimated a barrel of potatoes, turnips, onions and beets at two and a half bushels; 
the pickles and sourkrout were counted and measured. Y'ou will uee that the distributions 
were not txchipively to New Y'ork men. In distributing to hospitals all were served alike 
and shared equally. One regiment of colored troops received a portion, and in small detach- 
ments troop.-, from other States received a share. 

Herewith I send you requisitions, orders and acknowledgments, with an accompanying 
letter. Very respectfully, vour ob't serv't, 

K. U. SPKNCER, Hospital Steward U. S. A. 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 11- 

Headquarters Fifth New York Artillery, 
Harper's Ferry, Va., Sept. lUh, 1864. 

Eeceiyed of J. H. Abeel, N. Y. State Agent, the following arti- 
cles, for the use and benefit of the 1st battalion of this regiment : 
35 bbls. potatoes, 20 do. onions, 20 do. turnips, 10 do. beets, 
2 cases cranberries, 7 do. tomatoes, 4 do. blackberries. 

A. L. MUNSON, 
Adjutant bth JST. Y. Vol. Artillery. 

Office Medical Director, H. H. D., 
Hilton Head, ^. C, July 25th, 1864. 

Col. I. S. Neville: 

Dear Sir — It gives me pleasure to announce to you that j^our 
supply of vegetables as a donation from the State of New York, 
for her soldiers in the field, was most opportune in this depart- 
ment, and has been judiciously distributed by your efiicient agent, 
Mr. J. D. Rightmyer, who visited every camp on the different 
islands to see that no soldier from the Empire State was omitted 
in sharing these charitable gifts. 

In behalf of the New York State troops, permit me to return 
to you their sincere thanks for your kind remembrance of them. 
Yery respectfully your obedient servant, - 

A. P. DALEYMPLE, 
Surgeon U. S. Vols., Medical Director, H. H. D. 

The act under which this agency is maintained makes no appro- 
priation for the relief of the wives, sisters or daughters of soldiers 
who, though poor, are drawn to Washington by the desire to see 
their husbands, brothers or fathers in hospitals. These poor 
women often exhaust all their means to get to Washington and 
then have no money with which to return to their homes. Under 
these circumstances I collected for their relief a private fund of 
$775, to which 

Senator Cornell contributed. $100 

Demas Strong 100 

. Thomas H. Faile 200 

A. T. Stewart&Co -.. 250 

Samuel Breese, of Oneida 25 

John F. Seymour 100 

This fund was placed in the hands of Col. North, and by it 
eighty-nine poor women have been assisted. 

I submit herewith the following statement of the disbursement 



12 REPORT OP THE GENERAL AGENT 

of this money, not for publication but to show the fidelity Avith 

Tfhich Col. North has discharged this, in addition to his ordinary 
duties: 

Statement of contributions for relief of wives, mothers or sisters of 

JVeio York Volunteer Soldiers at Washington, D. C, jpaid to 
and disbursed by Samuel North, viz. : 

Received of Messrs. Cornell and Strong, $200 s tit.' Cf . ' finn 

>Mr. Faile ' 200 

Samuel Wave 25 

Alex. T. Stewart & Co. 250 
J. F. Seymour 100 

$775 

Paid out : 

To Mrs. Page, a soldier's mother, to return to Wayne co. $5 00 

A soldier's wife, to return to Albany 12 00 

Mrs. Linebeck, wife 2d N. Y. H. A., Utica 5 00 

A needy soldier's wife 5 00 

Wife of private Fillian, Co. I, 9th N. Y. A., Auburn 12 50 

Ryan, do do do 12 50 

Myer, Co. R, 2d mounted rifles 5 00 

Doyle, Co. D, 24th N. Y. C, Bufialo 15 00 
Garvin, 9th N. Y. V. A., Clyde.... 13 00 
Maders, Co. G, 83d N. Y. V., Frank- 
lin county 10 00 

Snjith, Co. 100, 2d V. R. C 10 00 

Mrs. Myers, New York city 4 00 

Wife of private Baker, 9tii N. Y. A., Lyons 10 00 

Serg't Wood, Co. I, 65th N. Y. V., N. York 8 00 
and 3 children of private Foster, 9th N. Y. A., 

Alexander 33 00 

of private Hunt, 17th lud't Battery, Middleport 10 00 

and 2 children of Serg't Downer. 2d N. Y. A.. 26 62 

Sister of private Kingsley, 8th N. Y. V. A 2 00 

Mother of private Owen, deceased, Rochester 15 00 

Mrs. Daniels, Avifc of Serg't Daniels 10 00 

Sister of private Kcllettc, 56th N. Y. V 5 00 

Mother of private Lamphere, Co. H., 8th N. Y. V. 

A., Cliemung 10 00 

Wife of private Ro.«s, Co. I, 2d Artillery, New York 8 25 
and childien of Cai)t. R. H. iJcll, deceased, 7th 

N. Y. II. A., to Albany 25 00 

of private Ingersoll, Co. B, 111th N. Y. V.. .. 4 50 

Buikc, 113th N. Y. v.. Troy 9 00 

Mother of private Spanahan, 501h N. Y. V. Eng., 

Oswego - 10 00 

Wife of 'private McCarty, 14th N. Y. V. C, N. York 8 50 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 13 

To Wife of private Cleaiy, 69th N. Y. V., New York . . $8 25 

Nelson, 179th N. Y. V., Elmira 15 00 

Cook, 143d N. Y. v., Drydeii 5 00 

Sister of private Riley, lOth N. Y. V. 9 00 

Wife of private Wallace, 63d N. Y. V., Mohawk... 10 00 

Sister of private Pitcher, 122d N. Y. V., Syracuse.. 15 00 

Wife of private Fiesch, 5th Ind't Battery, Eochester 10 00 
Sister of private Herriugton, 65th N. Y. V. C, White 

Creek 15 00 

Wife of private Vogler, 5th lud't Batter}^ Rochester 5 00 

McGrath, 83d N. Y. V., New York . 7 00 

W. M. Horton, 8 1st N. Y. V., Oswego 19 00 

Mrs. Rayner, a sick hospital nurse, lliou 7 00 

Wife of private Hazel, 10th N. Y. H. A., New York 9 00 

Mother of private Emblen, 147th N. Y. V., Syracuse 13 00 

Sister of Corp'l Morrison, 81st N. Y. V., Oswego .. 10 00 

Misses Shaw, hospital nurses 10 00 

Wife of a soldier 2 00 

Wife of private Gillian, lo5th N. Y. V., New York. 9 00 

Haas, 15th H. A., New York 8 00 

Mother of private Stevens, 126th N. Y. V., Ontario 

county 17 00 

Wife of private North, 137th N. Y. V., Oswego 7 00 

Cherry. 2d N. Y. V. C 5 00 

Connolly, 15th N. Y. V., New York. 5 85 

Gurn, 95th N. Y. V., New York 9 50 

Mother of private Raymond, 5th N. Y. V. C, Scio . 8 00 

Wife of private EufEn, 153d N. Y. V., New York . . 8 50 
Wife and children of private Doneghue, 2d N. Y. H. 

A., New York 10 00 

Wife of private Scott, 69th N. Y., New York 10 00 

McComben, 7th N. Y. H. A., Pots- 
dam 10 00 

Mother of private Ackley, 93d N. Y. V., Albany. . . 10 00 
C. Griffen, 125 N. Y. V., Seneca 

Falls 12 00 

Wife of private Conroy, 20th N. Y. V., Esopus 10 00 

Sullivan, 5th N. Y. H. A., Afton ... 15 00 

Backus, 6th N. Y. H. A., Fowler... 10 00 

Hard, 6th N. Y. V. C, New York . . 3 00 

Mahoney, 170th N. Y. V.. New York 5 00 

Varse, 4th N. Y. H. A., New York . 4 50 

Riley, 173d N. Y. V., New York ... 5 00 

Blatchley, 2d N. Y. H. A 2 00 

Mrs. M. Leavy, to go home to Binghamton 10 00 

Wife of private Wilkeson, 147th N. Y. V., Oswego. 10 50 

McCarty, 73d N. Y. V 5 00 

Parsons, 51st N. Y. V 4 00 

Holmes, 111th N. Y. V. 4 50 



14 REPOET OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

To Wife of private Stratton, 105th N. Y. V ' $5 00 

Haulon, 156th N. Y. V. 5 00 

Snow, 9th Heavy Artillery 16 00 

Sister of private Lawrence, 77th N. Y. V 16 00 

Wife of private Casterline, 5th N. Y. H. A 5 00 

Thompson, 7th N. Y. H. A 3 00 

Locker, 10th N. Y. H. A 4 00 

Mother of private Rufta, 6th N, Y. H. A 3 00 

Wife of private Holmes, 152cl N. Y. V 4 50 

Mother of private Jermain, 155th N. Y. V ._ 2 00 

Wife of private Farr, 10th N. Y. H. A. 10 00 

Kean, 10th N. Y. H. A 5 00 

Rix, 8th N. Y. H. A 5 00 

Yates, 97th N. Y. V 8 00 



$773 97 
Duties of Agents. 

The duties of these agents are so numerous that it is impossible 
to enumerate all, but I mention the following : 

1st. Assisting soldiers to get their descriptive lists and back pay. 

2d. Assisting wounded soldiers to get furloughs. 

3d. Assisting furloughed and discharged soldiers to get trans- 
portation to their homes. 

4th. Examining and obtaining the discharge of soldiers so per- 
manently diseased, that their continuance in the army or hospital 
is a useless expense to the government and an unnecessary separa- 
tion from their families. 

5th. Visiting the hospitals to ascertain the wants and condition 
of our soldiers, and seeing that they are properly cared for. 

6th. Writing letters and attending to all the wants of the 
soldiers and the inquiries of their friends, 

7th. Making a register of the sick and wounded, and ti'ansmit- 
ting it to the depot at New York. 

8th. Securing to our soldiers the benefit of the provisions made 
for them by the general government, and supplying to soldiers 
such articles as are necessary for them which they cannot obtain 
in due season from the general government. 

That the importance of these duties may be apparent to all, I 
give the folloAving statement from Mrs. May, at Nashville, under 
date of June 7th, 1864 : 

"The men arc so far away from home that they seem to appre- 
ciate all I do for them, though sometimes it is hard for them to 
understand why a lady should leave her home and come down 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 15 

here to attend to them. Yesterday an old man, from the 107th 
New York, was brought into the hospital (No. 1) very badly 
wounded, his pants perfectly filthy, and so covered with blood 
that the flies completely swarmed about him. He sat in a corner 
all alone, looking at me as I went from one to another supplying 
their wants — giving them clean cotton shia-ts, cotton drawers, also 
dark woolen drawers to do as pants while I had theirs washed for 
them. After I got through I went to him : ' What can I do for 
you?' 'For me, for me. Oh ! kind lady, I am so dirty.' 'Well,' 
said I, ' I will soon have you fixed up nice and clean,' at the same 
time giving him some clean clothes, and telling him to go to the 
bath-room, then to the barber's and I would settle the bill for 
him. He sat perfectly still in wonderment, not seeming to under- 
stand me. I then told him who I was, and as he listened tho 
tears trickled down his sunburnt face, and he said he never heard 
of such kindness to a poor old man. I need very much as soon as 
you can send $300 or $400, as I shall be obliged to purchase 
clothing and also fruit." 

Again, under date of June 21st, 1864, Mrs. May, after acknow- 
ledging the receipt of a draft for $500, writes as follows : 

"I shall be obliged to purchase about one hundred pairs of 
pantalooons, as so many soldiers are brought in entirely destitute 
and in many cases are sent off again before drawiiig on the partial 
descriptive lists which the}'' have lately furnished for this emer- 
gency, and it was for that purpose I telegraphed to you for funds. 
I have seen inany and many a poor fellow go away from this hos- 
pital with nothing on but drawers and shirt ; no socks, pants, coat 
or hat, tho' no JSfew York man has gone so to my knowledge." 

Mrs. May's letters form her report hereto annexed, marked No. 
18. This and other reports show the wisdom of the act in requir- 
ing the appointment of agents, instead of the distribution of the 
amount of the appropriation. 

The appropriation, if distributetl in money among the sick and 
wounded soldiers of this state, would hardly have exceeded five 
dollars to each man, and would have disappeared in less than six 
months. 

The monthly expenditures of the sanitary commission during 
some months of the bloody campaign of the last summer, have 
exceeded in amount the whole of the state appropriation. 

The great benefits derived by our soldiers from the services of 



16 EEPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

Dr. D. Z. Rogers, at New Orleans, are additional illustrations of 
the advantages of our system of agencies. 

On Ms arrival at New Orleans, Dr. Eogers found that the trans- 
ports which conveyed the sick from New Orleans to New York 
were generally loaded with cotton and sugar between decks, and 
the sick soldiers were accommodated in the hold of the vessels, 
many of them invalids, unable to help themselves, most of them 
destitute of bedding of any kii?d, and without ventilation or any 
provision made for their comfort. 

These facts he brought to the notice of Gen. Banks, who placed 
the transportation not only of the New York soldiei-s, but of all 
invalid soldiers going east, in the charge of Dr. Eogers. He was 
furnished with ambulances for the removal of the sick from the 
hospitals to the transports, with provisions, medicines and nurses 
for them on the vessels, and^ he procured bedding for them, thus 
saving many lives, and doing all with little expense to this State. 

I respectfully call your attention to other and similar services 
mentioned in Dr. Eogei's' report, and also to the evidence which 
that report contains of the readiness shown by Gen. Banks to ad- 
vance every effort made or suggested by Dr. Eogers for the relief 
of our soldiers. We will not forget Gen. Banks' order of June 12, 
1864, in which he declares that "no steamers are too good for 
the transportation of sick and wounded men." 

In conclusion I refer to all the reports hereto annexed, for the 
abundant evidence which they furnish of the benefits conferred by 
State agents and hospital visitors. 

HosPCTAL Visitors. 

The duties of these hospital visitors are so well described by 
Dr. M. M. Bagg, in his report, that I give here the following ex- 
tract from that report : 

"Commencing the service on the 15th day of June, I continued 
to make daily visits to the hospitals until the 14th day of July. 
The institutions assigned me for most frequent visitation were 
Douglass and Stanton within the city, Finley and Eckington on its 
outskirts and Camp Stoncman near Giesboro. A thorough inspec- 
tion of each ward of these general hospitals was made four times, 
and a similar inspection of Camp Stoneman three times; Campbell, 
Armory Square and several wards of Harcwood were each twice 
gone over in the same maimer, besides mere cursoiy visits — occa- 
eioned for the most part by a call to execute therein some particu- 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 17 

lar commission — to five other hospitals within the city, to those of 
the second division at Alexandria, to Fairfax Seminary hospital 
and to the Seminary hospital at Georgetown. 

" It was my custom to repair in the morning to the office of the 
agency, where I received an assignment of my duties for the day, 
and a notification of any especial matters that needed attention. 
These commonly consisted of responses to applications for aid 
made by soldiers in the difierent institutions. Such applications, 
which were presented constantly and in large numbers, were 
placed for investigation in the hands of the visitors. Receiving 
my share of them, I set out for the hospital, making it my busi- 
ness while there to inquire not only into the cases already brought 
to my notice, but also, when time allowed, to see and converse 
with every New York soldier lying in its wards. I endeavored, 
in accordance with my instructions, while dropping him a word of 
sympathy and encouragement, to ascertain what were his wants ; 
if he needed anything which was not supplied by the hospital 
authorities, such as clothing, cordials and delicacies to quicken a 
languid appetite, writing materials or an amanuensis, tobacco, &c., 
&c. ; if he suffered from neglect on the part of the nurses, ward 
masters or other attendants ; if any portion of his State bounty or 
of his pay from the general government was still due him — in 
short, if he stood in need of anything that a sick or wounded sol- 
dier ought to have, and which his own State could and ought to 
furnish. At the close af each day's visitation, returns were made 
to Col. North, which included, besides a general statement of the 
condition of the hospital and its inmates, a complete list of all the 
necessities made known by the patients. On the following day 
the required articles were carried by porters of the office to the 
ward masters of the various wards, to be by them distributed, if 
approved by the surgeons of the needy expectants. Measures 
were also taken to secure back pay, whether from the State or 
the United States, to those who claimed to be entitled thereto. In 
the former case, that namely where some portion of the State 
bounty was still due, these consisted in procuring from the agent 
of the Paymaster General of New York the requisite blanks, and 
conveying them to the soldier for his signature. In the latter case 
the course pursued was to inform the regimental paymaster, if 
resident in the city of Washington, of the fact that such claimants 
were in the city and in want, and the name and numbers of the 
hospital, ward and bed where they might be foimd. The necessi- 

[Senate, No. 83.] 2 



REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

ties of every kind Avere in each case relieved as far as was practi- 
cable ; the articles they had asked for, it was ascertained on a 
subsequent visit, had been brought them ; communication had 
been opened with their paymaster, while the form necessary to 
enable them to draw the State bounty, myself or some other 
visitor had the pleasure of putting into their hands. Complaints 
which were at any time made of neglect by the subordinates of 
the hospital were at once brought to the notice of the surgeon in 
charge of the institution from which they emanated." 

I close this statement of the benefits of State agencies with the 
following beautiful quotation from Col. North's report for the year 
1863 : 

"The sick soldier in hospital, away from the home for which 
his heart yearns, is peculiarly sensitive to overtures of kindness. 
The presence of sympathy and gentle offerings of friendship are 
often more efficacious in restoring him to health than the most 
skillful compounds or nicely administered prescriptions of the 
physician. Even when, as must so often be the case, the gratifica- 
tion of his wish or the satisfactory solution of his difficulty is im- 
practicable under the stern rules of army administration, or through 
inevitable defects of vouchers and certificates, yet he goes back to 
duty or to suflTering, relieved and cheered by the fact that kind 
interest in his case and active efforts to help him have been placed 
near him, and at his call, by the State in which his home is, and 
in whose citizenship he learned to love his country and to peril 
his life for it." 

This is the language of a warm heart and of a good citizen. 

It has been a matter of no small difficulty to purchase needful 
supplies for our soldiers, and to continue in full efficiency the 
different agencies for their relief through the year on an appro- 
priation which was less than some of the monthly expenditures of 
the Sanitary Commission. 

In the fall of 1863, I purposed calling upon the different 
Soldiers' Aid Societies throughout the State for supplies; but 
from an unwillingness to disturb the source of supply of the 
Sanitary Commission, the folloAving agreement was entered into 
and continued in force until the latter part of August, when it was 
terminated by a notice from the Sanitary Commission, a copy of 
which will be found immediately after the' copy of the agreement 
here giveii: 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 19 



( Copy. ) 

Memorandum of an arrangement entered into by and between the 
Agena/ for the relief of the New York State Soldiers and the 
United States Sanitary Commission, this 29th day of De- 
cember^ 1863. 

Whereas, The Sanitary Commission has labored to collect into 
one common store house all the voluntary supplies for the sick 
and wounded of the army, in order to secure the most equal dis- 
tribution, according to existing needs, among the soldiers fighting 
in a common cause, and at the same time to furnish all facilities for 
administering relief to the special agents of those States, which 
are contributing so largely to the stores of this commission, and 

Whereas, The General Agent of the State of New York, is un- 
willin«: to disturb the channel, through which the contributions of 
its citizens already flow to the Sanitary Commission; therefore, 

The followiuo: arrano-ement is entered into: 

John F, Seymour, as General Agent for the I'elief of sick and 
wounded soldiers of the State of New York, Avill (with full con- 
sent of the donors) co-operate in directing all supplies to the store 
houses of the Sanitary Commission, and will draw upon said store 
houses. 

The Sanitary Commission will fill requisitions for "individual 
relief," made or endorsed by the Agents of the State of New 
York, duly accredited to said Commission for this purpose, and 
likewise the requisitions from the respective offices of these Agents, 
to meet cases of individuals applying to them for relief; and will 
fill from their store houses requisitions for a larger amount of sup- 
plies to be used for patients in hospitals made by the same duly- 
accredited Agents, with the usual approval of the Surgeons in 
charge, so far as the equal care of all sick and wounded soldiers 
will justify. 

The above mentioned distributions to patients in hospitals will 
be made by the Agents of the State of New York. 

If for any reason it should be deemed desirable by either party 
to terminate this arrangement, it can be done by giving thirty days 
notice to the other party. 

[Signed] JOHN F. SEYMOUR, General Agent, dc. 

HENRY W. BELLOWS, President U. S. San. Com. 



20 KEPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

U. S. Sanitaey Commission, 823 Broadway, ? 
New York, July 2Wi, 1864. \ 

John F. Seymour, Esq., 

General Agent of the State of New York, 

for the relief of its sick and wounded soldiers: 

Dear Sir — I am instructed by the standing committee of the U. 
S. Sanitary Commission, to notify you that they feel compelled to 
terminate the arrangement entered into on the 29th day of De- 
cember last, by yourself, on the part of the State of New York, 
and the Eev. Dr. Bellows, on the part of the II. S. Sanitary Com- 
mission, pertaining to the relations of the Commission Avith the 
New York State Agency. 

The practical working of the agreement leads to such dispro- 
portionate supply of the demands for soldiers from the State of 
New York, as compared with those of other national soldiers, that 
the committee in view of the calls upon its resources and the pre- 
sent and prospective condition of its store houses, is reluctantly 
obliged to give the notice of discontinuance of the arrangement, 
which is provided for in the closing sentence of the agreement 
executed as above stated on the 29th day of December, 1863. 

Will you do me the favor to inform me whether you are willing 
to waive the 30 days' notice, and to consider the agreement an- 
nulled, from date or any other period. 

Very respectfully yours, 

J. FOSTEE JENKINS, 

General Secretary/. 

Without this arrangement, or without assistance from local 
societies throughout the State, we could not have made our agen- 
cies as useful as they have been to our soldiers. 

I am much indebted to Col. North in the makinff of this 
arrangement. 

It has been a matter of much doubt among: our agents, whether 
it would not have been better to have relied upon local societies 
throughout the State for our supplies, and unless the sanitary 
commission renew the ari-angement, I recommend an appeal to 
soldiers' aid societies throughout the State to send supplies to the 
State agencies. 

This recommendation does not arise from any hostility to the 
commission, but from the necessity of having supplies at the 
different agencies. It is due to the sanitary commission to state, 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 21 

that it has not ceased to honor our requisitions, although it has 
terminated the ao;reement> 

I call your attention to a report of Dr. Dimon, under the date 
of May 28th, on account of tlie interesting information it gives, 
and also because of the merited compliment it pays to officers of 
the United States medical department at Fortress Monroe. A 
similar tribute is due to Dr. John M. Cuyler and his assistants for 
their efficiency and unceasing labor at Belle Plain ; Dr. Dalton 
and his assistants, at Fredericksburgh, and to Dr. Thurston and 
Major Wentz, for their labors in moving the wounded from Fre- 
dericksburgh, by the railroad, to Acquia Creek. These officers 
worked day and night, and it is a wonder to those who have wit- 
nessed their labors that they could endure so much and so long. 

The whole medical department has been efficiently and carefully 
managed. I do not mean to say that mistakes have not been 
made ; the constant and the casual observer will both see them ; 
the latter may think there are nothing but mistakes, but they are 
really only like the eddies found in every flood running counter 
to the main current. There was literally a great stream of sup- 
plies, ambulances and reinforcements flowing to Belle Plain, and 
finding its way thence to Fredericksburgh and to the army ; the 
tramp of men and the rumble of ambulances and supply wagons 
on the wharf at Belle Plain was unceasing day and night ; the 
wharf was in shape like the letter V. On one side lay the 
barges to receive the wounded as they were brought on the wharf 
in ambulances and army wagons, on the other side were the sup- 
ply boats from which the wagons were reloaded with supplies 
and rations. To receive the wounded men, take them from the 
ambulances and stretchers, place them on barges to be floated to 
the transports. To see that they were fed and cared for on their 
way to Washington, their wounds dressed, &c., and at the same 
time receive the supplies and rations constantly arriving from 
"Washington and having them loaded and dispatched to the 
wounded and to the army, was a herculean task, and it was well 
performed in spite of the confusion incident to such a scene. 

I wish also to give mj'- testimony to the efficiency of the sanitary 
and christian commissions. Twice I went to Belle Plain on board 
of steamers of the sanitary commission which were constantly 
occupied in carrying supplies to the wounded. I found on board 
of one of these steamers named the Mary Bapley, bales of straw 
for the wounded at Fredericksburg, brooms for the hospitals, 556 



22 REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT , , 

pillo-w ticks, 250 bed-ticks, 735 pairs of crutches, 135 pairs. of 
scissors for nurses, and boxes of beef tea and condensed milk, 
1,900 tin cups and other articles which the wounded require. 
That commission had also 29 wagons in which to take supplies 
from Belle Plain to Fredericksburg. On our way to Belle Plain, 
we jDassed Washington's house and Washington's tomb, which we 
imagined were sorrowful witnesses of the steamboat loads of 
wounded and dying men daily and nightly passing up the Poto- 
mac, but as we saw the loads of fresh troops and supplies jjassing 
down the Potomac, we were equally impressed with the wonder- 
ful resources of the North and with the industry and energy which 
drew from these resources such steady streams for the support of 
the great army in the field and for the sick and wounded in hos- 
pitals. The war department and all the medical department have 
jDerfqrmed wonders, and are entitled to the highest praise for their 
system and energy. I can imagine but one improvement, and 
that is, that the medical department should have its own naeans of 
transportation independently of that used by other departments. 
I found Mrs. E. H. Spencer at Belle Plain helping all soldiers 
without distinction of states. Doctors Babcock, Chamberlaine, 
GofF, Post and Max on, who were taken by me to Belle Plain, 
dressed the wounds of all soldiers who applied to them, and such 
was the demand for this kind of assistance, that I found myself 
engaged in this strange business. The labor and exciting scenes 
at Belle Plain were too much for the strength and health of almost 
all our assistants. Very few of them have escaped subsequent 
illness and continued prostration of nervous energy. The ladies who 
have been employed by the New York State agency, have proved 
very useful. They have thus far proved more enduring and less 
liable to sickness from exposure at hospitals, than our other agents. 
I advise the continuance of their services at hospitals. I recom- 
mend the employment in our offices of disabled soldiers, and I 
also recommend the employment at each agency of one or more 
surgeons who have been in the service of the United States gov- 



's 



ernment as volunteer surgeons. They only are competent to judge 
whether our soldiers in hospitals have the benefit of that medical 
and surgical skill to which they are entitled. 

The law under which the State agencies have been established 
authorizes the Governor to take the entire appropriation from the 
Treasury, and to furnish vouchers afterwards. It has been our 
endeavor, in accordance with your wishes, to reverse this order as 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. / 23 

far as possible, and to call upon jour excellency only for money 
already expended, upon vouchers of its actual expenditure, or 
upon vouchers of actual indebtedness. Under ordinary circum- 
stances and with regular employees this has been done, but after 
a battle like that of Gettysburg, or during a campaign like that 
of the past.summer, the money must be had in advance, and we 
should have been compelled to resort directly to the relief fund, 
without vouchers, but for the patriotic liberality of Mr. Frederick 
S. Winston, of New York. He has accepted and paid the drafts 
of the agency without any compensation ;save the thanks of the 
Governor of the State, and of the Board of Managers of the New 
York State Soldiers' Depot, and of the New York State Agency. 
These drafts, witli affidavits of expenditures, were subsequently pre- 
sented to the Comptroller and paid, upon 3'our order. These are 
the drafts mentioned in the annexed statement of expenditures 
herewith submitted to you : 

Detailed statement of expenditures in 1863 and 1864, fo7' the relief 
of sick and toounded soldiers, exclusive of JSfew York State Sol- 
diers' Depot : 

For the payment of agents, sui'geons and hospital visitors, em- 
ployed in the assistance of sick and wounded soldiers of this 
State, at the agencies at Philadelphia, Baltimore, Norfolk, 
Washington, Alexandria* in the field, with the Army of the 
Potomac ; at Louisville, Kentucky ; at Nashville, Tennessee ; 

and at New Orleans, during 1863 and 1864 $49,106 16 

Expenses of the Agents, board and travel, I860 and 

.1864 1 . 12,574 16- 

Printing report of General Agent for 1863 755 80 

Postage for agencies 671 11 

Telegraphs 144 36 

Printing blanks, cards, &c., and advertising 131 00 

Advances to destitute soldiers and wives of the same. 626 35 

Compensation of clerks 361 48 

Supplies for soldiers 3,269 93 

Stimulants for 1863, $443.51 ; for 1864, $576.38 1,019 89 

Tobacco for 1863, $55.75 ; for 1864, $708.65 764 40 

Office rent . 2,089 76 

Stationery for offices and soldiers 1 ,484 22 

Office expenses 1^208 44 

Advances for relief of sick soldiers at Baltimore 200 00 

Miscellaneous expenditures 284 13 

Transportation of soldiers, of supplies and remains of 

deceased soldiers 1,969 98 

Medical stores 284 95 

Hospital furniture, Elmira _ 100 GO 



24 EEPORT OP THE GENERAL AGENT 

Expenses of A. J. Parker, W. Kelly and W. F. Allen, 

Commissioners to Washington and clerks $308 95 

Turkey for thanksgiving dinner of Kew York sol- 
diers in hospitals at Washington 422 85 

Fuel for ofBces 324 17 

Clothing, &c., for destitute soldiers. _ 1,291 69 

Procuring hospital records 33 1 19 

Advance to Mr. Ferry, for returned prisoners at An- 
napolis 110 00 

Advance to Mrs. B. L. Hovey, for relief at Louisville 100 00 
Vegetables, fruits and preserved meats for army of 

Potomac, Hilton Head and Harper's Ferry. . . 9,548 71 

J. S. Neville, apples to Charleston and Norfolk 343 00 

Drafts on F. S. Winston ... 23,195 81 

Expenses at Quarantine in preparing buildings for use 

as hospitals, by George Bliss, jr., in 1862 2,893 75 

Sanitary Commission, for relief at Gettysburgh 500 00 

Obtaining names and places of burial of New York 
State Volunteers at Gettysburgh, crutches for 
wounded soldiers, and for expenses of Dr. Theodore 

Dimon and others at Gettysburgh 200 00 

Opening agency office, and procuring books for same, 

at Philadelphia 100 00 

G. W. Buck, services and expenses visiting Eiker's 

Island 62 00 

Balance of prisoner's relief fund paid into the Trea- 
sury January 9th, 1865.. Ill 92 

Total expenses of agencies for 1863 and 1864.. $116,890 16 

Cemeteeies fob Soldiers Killed at Getttsbtjkg and Antietam. 

By virtue of chapter 392 of the Laws of 1864, the Comptroller 
is authorized to pay, upon the requisition of the Governor, the 
sum of thirty thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be 
necessary, from the unexpended balance of the appropriation of 
two hundred thousand dollars for soldiers' relief, for the purpose 
of defrajdng that portion of the expenses apportioned to the 
State by the Commissioners of the Soldiers' National Cemetery at 
Gettysburg, and also for the purchase of ten acres of land near 
Sharpsburgh. 

The share of the expenses of the Cemetery at Gettysburgh ap- 
portioned to the State amounts to $13,123.33. Of this sum, two 
instalments only have been called for ; they amount to $6,520, 
and have been paid. 

With reference to the purchase of land near Sharpsburgh, for 



FOR SICK AND -WOTINDED SOLDIERS. 25 

the purpose of a Cemetery, we can only report that the State of 
Maryland passed an act for the purchase of ten acres of ground 
for the Cemetery, and authorizing this State to unite in that pur- 
chase ; and therefore Mr. James M. RedlSeld, of Batavia, was ap- 
pointed to represent this State in the purchase and in the prepa- 
ration of the Cemetery ; but owing to a defect in the title of the 
land selected, and also to the incursions of rebel forces into Mary- 
land, nothing further has been accomplished, as will appear from 
Mr. Redfield's report hereto annexed, marked No. 19. 

It is to be hoped that the difficulties which have prevented the 
gathering of the remains of our soldiers into a national cemetery 
at Sharpsburg will not continue through another year. 

A list of the names of those buried near Sharpsburg, together 
with a statement of the places where they are buried, Avill be 
found in my last annual report, commencing on page 67 of that 
report as published by itself, and on page 106 of that report as*- 
printed in connection with the report of the Board of Managers of 
the New York State Soldiers' Depot. 

A copy of the act of the legislature of the State of Maryland, 
authorizing the cemetery at Sharpsbui-g, and also authorizing the 
State of New York to unite with Marjdand in the purchase of land 
for the purposes of the cemetery, will be found hereto annexed, 
marked document No. 20. 

The temporary closing of the agencies at Baltimore and Wash- 
ington, and the arrest and imprisonment of M. J. Ferry, M. M. 
Jones, and Col. North and Mr. Cohen, would be fully set forth in 
this report, but the charges and proceedings before the military 
commission, and the testimony of the witnesses before that com- 
mission, ai-e not yet sufficiently known. 

M. J. Ferry was appointed by me in July, 1863, to assist the 
wounded as they arrived at Baltimore from Gettysburg. This 
appointment was made without reference to political considera- 
tions, and on the necessity of the occasion at Baltimore, where I 
accidentally met him. He was continued in the service because 
of his efficiency, and it is due to him to state that up to the time 
of the offense of which the militaiy commission has convicted him, 
he was one of our most useful agents. 

M. M. Jones entered the army as a volunteer at the commence- 
ment of the war. He was subsequently taken and held as a pris- 
oner at Richmond, and upon his return to Utica was so active in 



26 REPORT OP THE GENERAL AGENT 

all efforts to aid soldiers, that he was selected as an hospital viaitor 
at Washington. 

Mr. Cohen is a clerk in the office of the Paymaster General of 
this State, and is a young man of good reputation. 

Col. Samuel North is well known throughout the State, and I 
heartily endorse the tribute paid to him at the close of the report 
of the Rev. J. V. Van Ingen, which report is the first hereto 
annexed. 

Col. North, M. M. Jones and Mr. Cohen are still in the Old 
Capitol prison at Washington, while being tried before a military 
commission upon the charge of a conspiracy to commit frauds upon 
soldiers' votes. No adequate report of their case can now be 
made, but it is due from me to them that I should here state my 
belief in their innocency of any fraud, and my hope of their 
acquittal. 

Charges of fraud upon the elective franchise should be investi- 
gated, and the crime when committed should be punislied by the 
proper tribunal. But it is difiicult to see how these men come 
within the jurisdiction of a military commission. They are not 
military men in any sense. Like the agents of the Sanitary and 
Christian Commissions their power and jurisdiction is one of relief 
only. 

In closing tliis i-eport I desire, in behalf of myself and other 
State agents, to thank you for the opportunities which you have 
given us to relieve the wants of the sick and wounded and desti- 
tute soldiers of the State of New York in hospitals and on the 
field. 

, JOHN F. SEYMOUR. 



(No. 1.) 
Washington Report. 
JoHjf F. Seymour, Esq., 

Dear Sir — The unhappy interruption of the business of the 
office in October, bj'' which it was then, and has ever since been 
deprived of the efficient oversight of its most active and laliorious 
head, has necessarily devolved upon others the preparation of this 
report. The same cause must render it less full, and consequently 
less satisfactory. 

A general outline and classification of the regular work of the 
office will be found on page 74 of last year's report. In each of 



FOE SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 



2*7 



the classes of the work there enumerated there has been L'lrge 
increase, rather than diminution of services, during the t^vvelve 
months embraced in this report. It need only be referred to here 
as a minute detail of most of the kinds of service claiming the 
attention of the agency. 

But in order to a more comprehensive view of the nature and 
value of this department of the care of the State for her Holdiei"s, 
the work of the office (all placed under the general control and 
headship of Col. North) may properly receive this larger classifica- 
tion, viz. ; 

First. Into the military and medical departments. 

The military department again sub-divided as follows : 

1. Business communications with the War Department, referred 
to Col. John Bradley, as his specialty. 

2. Correspondence with the State authorities, and general cor- 
respondence. Col. North and clerks. 

3. Special relief to soldiers in hospital; in transitu, and in the 
field; soliciting aid and counsel in the disentanglement of their 
accounts or the adjustment of their regimental relations; in obtain- 
ing furloughs for special causes, and invoking State interference 
under real or imaginary wrong; and within the whole circuit of 
the department of Washington, daily applications in person or 
through hospital visitors, asking clothing and other means of 
bodily comfort. 

4. Relief and counsel to the friends and kindred of soldiers 
seeking it in person or by letter. 

Sf. The cases of imprisoned citizens seeking counsel and assist- 
ance and personal interviews; and of these a large class charged 
with desertion, but claiming, as the event has often proved, never 
to have been soldiers; and the relief of such after release from 
prison, and their transportation to their homes. 

6. The department of payment of State bounties having a desk 
in the office during a great part of the year has added materially 
to the throng of applicants, and to the efficiency of relief afforded. 

7. The Agency at Alexandria, including both male and female 
hospital visitors has been, in the direction of the persons em- 
ployed, in seeing them furnished with supj^lies, and in the entire 
responsibility of its management and expense, a part of the charge 
and care of the office at Washinoton. 

Such is a general outline of the interior of the Washington 
office, exclusive of 



28 REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

The Medical Depaktment, 
Whose officers have been kept constantly occupied in personal 
inspection of cases of sick and wounded, desiring transfer to 
hospitals near their homes, furloughs, exemptions from duty, or 
final discharges for disability. 

The brief and modest but expressive report of Dr. Dwinellc is 
here inserted at large, as comprehending, in few but well weighed 
words, the uses and importance of the department. 

Dr. Dwinelle has been a most courteous and indefatiarable officer' 
never absent from his post and never neglecting any of its details 

New York State Agenct, 181 Pennsylvania ave. 
Washington, D. C, Dec. 22, 1864. 

To John F. Seymoue, Esq. : 

Agreeable to your directions I became a member of the medical 
department of this agency the 1st day of October, and have been 
on duty here constantly since. It has been my particular province 
to answer communications from our State soldiers, and to examine 
those who presented themselves in reference to furloughs, transfers 
to their own State and for discharges from the service. 

The form of relief to which the duties of the medical agent 
refer themselves gives occasion for the fullest occupation of his 
time, and will be recognized upon reilection as appealing more 
than any other to the care and interest of the State. 

In all instances that have seemed worthy of serious considera- 
tion I have made application by letter, setting forth their particu- 
lar merits to the Surgeon General, Medical Director, or to the 
surgeons in charge of general hospitals, with a request for a 
special examination. 

The applications have been numerous, and have been met with 
respectful consideration. The results of the examinations show 
that they have been carefully made, and they have been generally 
satisfactory. 

Respectfully submitted, 

JUSTIN DWINELLE. 

The daily applications under the heads above enumerated have 
furnished to those in charge of the office abundant "work, and the 
largest exercise of interest and sympathy, and could the daily 
record of cases be written fully, as it cannot, it would be a proud 
and touching monument of the paternal care and interest of the 



FOR SICK AND WOTJNDED SOLDIERS. 29 

State, in the multitude of her sons, sent forth to serve and suffer 
for the National integrity and life. 

To you sir, and to those who have been co-workers with you, 
the experience of labors in the Soldiers' Eelief Agency will be 
cherished in memory, as foremost among the privileged opportuni- 
ties of duty. 

It remains only that I add some statistics of the details of work 
in the office. They convey but an imperfect idea of the nature 
and extent of the services performed. 

I begin with the statement of applications in person at this 
office for counsel, for material assistance and for the interference 
of the agency in promoting their relief. The total number of ap- 
plications under this head, the number to whom assistance has 
been rendered, cannot be put at less than 25,000. 

Number of commissions received from the adjutant-general's 
office for the State of New York, for officers in the service, 
inspected, registered and transmitted from this office, to their 
destination through the war office of the United States, as reported 
by Col, Bradley, December 20th, 1864, 3,132. Number of other 
communications received and transmitted in like manner, 2,641, 
as reported by Col. Bradley, December 20th. 

Number of letters necessarily written on business pertaining to 
the office, including among others large correspondence with the 
authorities of the State, with the officers and enlisted men of our 
volunteer organizations, in all parts of the field, with patients in 
hospitals and the officers in charge of them, the citizens and 
soldiers in military prisons and with their friends, 16,000. 

Number of certificates of citizenship and loyalty granted to 
citizens of the State of New York applying at this office for 
passes from the provost marshal's office for visiting interdicted 
positions, occupied by our troops, in reference to their sick hus- 
bands and brothers, from wounds or other causes, or the removal 
of such as had fallen in battle (number, including those who had 
for their object employment by the government), 3,035. 

Hospital Eecord. 
A book was opened on May 1st, 1864, in this office under 
special charge of recording clerk Capt. S. V. Peet, for record of 
sick and wounded New York soldiers admitted to the hospitals in 
and about Washington. This service continued till the end of 
October, and exhibits under their separate organizations, the names 
of 21,388 New York enlisted men. 



30 REPORT. OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

The Invalid Corps, now recognized as the Veteran Reserve 
Corps, has absorbed into its organization very large numbers of 
New York volunteers, transferred into it from their orifjinal 
organizations, for greater or less degrees of disability for field 
service. A very large portion of these troops, including nearly 
all the more seriously disabled, are stationed in and about Wash- 
ington, and though wholly separated from state relations and 
control, they still look to their own state agency for counsel and 
relief, and add largely to the crowd of applicants at the office. 

Eelief to Wives and other febiale kindred of Soldiers. 

Among the applications appealing most painfully to the sympa- 
thies of those in charge at the agency, have been those of wives 
and mothers and sisters of sick or deceased soldiers, who, having 
expended their little means in reaching Washington and watching 
beside their sick or dying kindred, have found themselves desti- 
tute and without any means of return to their homes. The state 
agency was their natural and legitimate resort for sympathy and 
relief. Very many of these persons have come to us with a pas- 
sionate desire to carry home with them the remains of the kindred 
whose eyes they had closed in the hospital. Whether the state 
appropriation contemplated the exhausting drain upon the fund 
involved, in defraying the expense of the removal of the remains 
of soldiers to their homes, is regarded as very doubtful. 

But no legal provision exists for applying its funds to the 
travelling expenses of soldiers' kindred. These touching claims 
have been met by contributions of private bounty amounting, 
since June 16, 1864, to October 31st, $735, divided among eighty- 
six cases. ' 

It is but justice to add that in many of these instances the con- 
tribution at the agency was supplemented and increased by grants 
from a special fund at the Sanitary Commission, and that many 
others were Avholly supplied from the latter source. 

Eelief will continue to be sought by this class of applicants, so 
long as there are sick in our hospitals and wounded in the field. 
For reasons which will be obvious on the least reflection, provision 
for these cases from the public funds would only multiply them 
indefinitely ; they can only be met by a deposit of private bounty 
at the agency, to be used with great discretion. 

Whether provision for the removal of deceased soldiers to 
their homes should be distinctly embraced in the State Eelief 
Appropriation, and with what limitations, are questions submitted 



FOE SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 31 

to the State authorities. By several States, contracts at low rates 
have been made with railroad and express companies, which have 
proved a great boon to the bereaved citizen. 

Hospital Visiting. 

A system of daily visitation of New York soldiers in hospitals, 
by male and female visitors, and daily report of cases for relief, 
has been maintained in connection with the agency during the 
entire year, but on a greatly enlarged scale since the opening of 
the spring campaign. 

Supplies for effectuating the objects of these visits have been 
derived from funds and material placed by you at the disposal of 
the agent ; from the stores of the United States Sanitary Commis- 
sion, and from generous contributions, both in money and kind, 
by local associations of patriotic citizens. 

The voluntary service and unflagging devotion of one lady from 
Utica, who has given the entire summer and autumn to this work, 
deserves a record, which is here most cheerfully and heartily 
made. 

This summary, properly the work of another, ought not to be 
closed without a record of the estimate which more than a year 
and a half of joint services has suggested and warranted, of the 
character and quality of the public services of the ofiicer who, for 
that period, has been charged with the oversight and care of the 
Washington Agency for New York soldiers. For administrative 
ability, for faithful diligence, for comprehensive plans and ener- 
getic decision, for honest guardiaiiship of funds entrusted to him, 
and for uniform and unwearied courtesy and kindness to all appli- 
cants and comers, Col. Samuel North has deserved and received 
from those who saw most of him, the cheerful tribute of a rank 
in these respects, among the foremost of those employed and tried 
in the severe ordeal of public service. 

All which is respectfully submitted. 

J. V. VAN INGEN, iV: Y. S. Field Agent, 

Assigned to the duty of maJcing this report, 

Wasiungton, D. C, Dec, 1864. 



32 REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

New York State AGENcr, 181 Pennsylvania Avenue, ) 
Washington, Dece)nber, 1864. J 

Hon. J. F. Seyimoue, 

Gen. Agent of the State of JSTew Yorh, for the relief of 

sick, wounded, furloughed and discharged soldiers : 

Sir — ^In the month of March, 1863, 1 was appointed by his excel- 
lency, Gov. Seymour, Medical Commissioner for the State of New 
York, to proceed to Washington, visit the U. S. General Hospi- 
tals of Washington, Alexandria and vicinity (Department of 
Washington), ascertain the condition, care and wants of the New 
York State soldiers, and give them such aid and assistance as they 
might require, procure for them furloughs and transfers, when, 
upon examination by the surgeons in charge of hospitals, they 
were proper subjects for such privileges, and bring to the notice 
of the surgeons in charge the condition of those soldiers who 
were totally unfit either for field service or the Veteran Reserve 
Corps ; also to assist our soldiers in procuring arrears of pay, 
settlement of claims against Government, the relatives of deceas- 
ed soldiers to procure their pensions, &c.; in short, to learn and 
relieve the multitudinous wishes and wants of our soldiers, their 
relatives and friends ; also, to act as Volunteer Surgeon, with the 
corps of assistant surgeons and nurses, when our services were 
needed, in conformity with the regulation and discipline of the 
hospitals or camps, and to report the conditions of our soldiers 
and our labor in their behalf to his excellency. Gov. Seymour, at 
the executive department at Albany. 

On my arrival at Washington,* I called upon Surgeon General 
W. A. Hammond, U. S. A., and presented my commission, toge- 
ther with the letter of instructions relative to my mission, and asked 
of him such authority to cany out the design of my ofiice as he 
might deem necessary or expedient, whereupon he gave me an 
official paper, of which the following is a copy : 

Surgeon General's Office, ? 

Washington City, D. C, March 20, 1863. J 

Dr. James L. Babcock having been appointed by the Govei'nor 
of New York as agent to visit the hospitals of Washington and 
vicinity, and examine into the condition of the New York soldiers 
who may be sick or wounded inmates, surgeons in charge are 
directed to afibrd him every proper facility in the discharge of his 
duties. [Signed], WM. A. HAMMOND, 

Surgeon General U. S. A. 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 33 

Dr. Hammond also requested me to report to him any want of 
attention on the part of the surgeons in charge, or any neglect in 
cleanliness or the sanitary regulations of the hospitals. Thus offi- 
cially recognized I entered immediately upon the duties of my office, 
visiting the different hospitals of Washington, Alexandria and vicini- 
ty, stating to the surgeons in charge the object of my visit, and sought 
out the New York soldiers, apprising tliem of the wishes and pur- 
pose of the Governor in their behalf, and gave them such aid and 
assistance as their conditions and situations seemed to require. 

Subsequently, when you became the general agent for the care 
and relief of the sick and wounded soldiers of New York, and the 
head of the agency, our office was advertised and handbills of its 
location posted in the various hospitals, and office cards circulated 
for the benefit of our soldiers, requesting such as needed assistance 
to call at the office, if able — if not able, to write their name, regi- 
ment, company, hospital, ward and number of bed upon the card, 
and send the same with this endorsement to our office, when we 
would visit them and render suitable assistance. This thorou<>;h 
system of attention to our soldiers soon made our labors very 
arduous, and it became necessarj'^ for you to increase the force of 
the office. We found it necessary to systematize the business, and 
two bureaus were established — one the military, under Col. North, 
and the other the medical, under my charge. The rapidly in- 
creasing business and utility of the office being generallj^ known, 
our soldiers almost invariably applied to us, either personally at 
the office, or by letter, or through the cards introduced in the hos- 
pitals by your direction, when supplies would be furnished ; and 
those physically disabled requesting furlough, transfer or dis- 
charge, would be examined, and if proper subjects for what they 
asked, application made from our office to the proper authorities. 
Under the amount of business which resulted from the increasing 
number of applications for examination at the office, it became in- 
cumbent upon me to remain at my desk unless in special cases 
requiring my personal attention at the hospitals, or during active 
campaigns, whei'e with surgeons, nurses and supplies we extended 
our labors to the battle-field, for the care and reKef of our wounded 
there. 

The business of the agenc}'^ has rapidly increased. When I first 
came here, two were sufficient to transact all the duties, and close 
at 3 P. M. Now it requires a much larger number, and the office 

[Senate, No. 83.] 3 



34 REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

is open from early morning until night. During the last cam- 
paign it required from six to ten in the office, and as many more 
to visit the hospitals, dispensing charities and supplies, besides my 
services with a corps of surgeons and nurses in the field, to meet 
the wants of our wounded there. The office became a centre, 
towards which our soldiers and their friends were attracted. The 
first place at which the citizens of New York make inquiries for 
their sick or wounded friends in the service, is at the New York 
State agency. Its influence and usefulness is now so generally 
known and appreciated, that although originally intended to meet 
the applications in this department and furnish information to 
friends at home, it has not been limited to this department alone. 
Our duties and labors have extended from Buffalo to New Or- 
leans — from the hospitals at Providence, E. I., to St. Louis — 
wherever &ur soldiers are requiring aid or assistance. During the 
last campaign, from the first movement of our army across the 
Rapidan until it reached City Point and before Petersburg, we as 
representatives of the agency, have accompanied its march with a 
corps of surgeons, nurses and supplies, attending our wounded 
and caring for them. 

Belle Plain and Fredeeicksburgh. 
When the first movements of our army across the Eapidan 
(May 4, 1864) was made, and the announcement that a san- 
guinary battle was being fought and that surgeons and assis- 
tants were needed, we procured transportation for mj'-self and a 
corps of assistants, and proceeded to Belle Plain. We found 
our wounded soldiers arriving by thousands, some in army wa- 
gons, some in ambulances and others on foot, the latter, from 
the character of their injuries, preferring walking to the jolt- 
ing of the wagons. The wounds of nearly all of them had 
been dressed before leaving the field, and being chiefly of the 
upper extremities, were better able to travel and bear trans- 
portation, and without stopping at Fredericksburgh came directly 
to Belle Plain, to be conveyed by transports to Washington. At 
this time there was but one tent with supplies at Belle Plain, 
which was eagerly sought by the wounded to get a cup of 
cofiee or something to eat, stating that it was the first they had 
received for three days, while other's would rush in wild disorder 
to the Avharves where lay the transports to convey them to Wash- 
ington. Long trains filled with the more serious cases of wounded 
arrived during the following night and morning. Their wounds 



FOU SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 35 

were of every description aud character, some with arms and limbs 
shot away, while others were torn with shell or pierced with bullets. 
There is no spot on the human form that did not bear marks of the 
carnage of those few days. Many died on the way from sheer ex- 
haustion or loss of blood. The lono; trains of ambulances and wao;ons 
bringing in the wounded extended for miles, as far as the eye could 
reach, and, following the tortuous windings of the road, seemed 
like a huge monster uncoiling its endless length. That morning 
tents began to rise here and there, and by afternoon the hills and 
valleys of Belle Plain were dotted with white. Into these the wound- 
ed were placed until they could be provided transportation, for their 
arrival in such large numbers made it necessaiy to wait for accom- 
modation on board the transport boats. We I'emained here but a 
couple of days, operating and dressing wounds, when word was sent 
that our services were much needed at Fredericksburgh; and ambu- 
lances being provided, and a squad of cavalry detailed as an 
escort, we proceeded to that place. 

Belle Plain is situated on the Potomac creek, an inlet of the 
Potomac, about two miles from the river. From its appearance it 
seemed to be a new point selected for the landing of the trans- 
ports, as the wharves had just been erected. Belle Plain proper 
was further up the creek. A short distance from the wharf, over 
the first rise of ground, in a basin formed by the surrounding 
hills, were eight thousand rebel prisoners, captured by General 
Hancock, and under a strong guard to prevent their escape. 

The country around Belle Plain and extending to Fredericks- 
burgh is a bleak, dreary wilderness of thick undergro^vth, and 
desolate. The route to Fredericksburgh is over a corduroy road, 
one of the worst that can be imagined, through a broken and hilly 
country, with scarcely a building on the way, or any evidence of 
civilization, savd a few log houses and a dilapidated church.* It 
is just the field for the operations of guerrillas. 

It is over this road that the wounded have to be carried to Belle 
Plain, in wagons and ambulances, and all the supplies for the army 
of General Grant are taken by the same road, almost impassable 
at times, and threatened on the entire route by roving bands. The 
destruction of the railroad bridge at Rappahannock station, 
immediately after the first movement of the army, caused 
Government to select this route of communication. At this time 
the road was crowded with wounded, in the trains and on foot 

* The ruins of the famous "White Oak Church." 



38 REPORT OP THE GENERAL AGENT 

literally filling up the sides of the road. Those not finding room 
to ride, if they could carry or drag themselves along by aid of 
staffs, used as crutches, eagerly pressed on the way to reach Belle 
Plain, where they not only expected to find transports to "Wash- 
ington, but could obtain subsistance. It was indeed pitiful to hear 
the groans of the wounded, in those unwieldy army wagons, and 
their sharp cry as the wheels would strike into a rut, or jolt over 
the logs of this corduroy road. Crossing the pontoon bridge OA^er 
the Eappahannock, we arrived in Fredericksburgh, (which is four- 
teen miles from Belle Plain) late in the afternoon. The city was 
compai-atively deserted by its former inhabitants, of whom not 
more than ten or twelve hundred, mostly females, remained. It 
was guarded by about one thousand Union troops. Passing tlirough 
the city up to headquarters to report for duty, on the way groups 
of wounded soldiers could be seen gathered around the wells, 
pumps and springs, dressing each others wounds. Some of them 
were half naked and stated that they had had no food for several 
days. 

The scene at Fredericksburgh cannot be described, or the casu- 
alties enumerated, the distress, suffering, and want of our soldiers 
were beyond description. The most lamentable and offensive 
sight was that presented by those who had been wounded in 
making a charge, and falling between the lines of battle, or ex- 
posed to pitiless storms in the dense woods, unable to get off" the 
field, or be brought away, their comrades not daring to venture to 
their relief, if within musket range of the enemy. They had, con- 
sequently, to remain where they fell for several days, and when 
brought in, half famished and exhausted, tlieir wounds filled with 
animalculse, presented to us truly pitiable objects for our care and 
sympathy. The shell wounds were fearful, mangled, torn, dis- 
membered, the spectacle they presented was terrible. A single 
case will give an idea of some of the injuries: A soldier had been 
deployed as sharpshooter along the skirmish line, and while lying 
down with his face to the ground in the attitude of firing, was 
struck by a minie ball from the enemy. The ball entei-ed his right 
arm, which was partially extended along his piece (in position to 
fire,) posteriorly about two inches above the elbow joint, passing 
obliquely upward and inward, made its exit near the shoulder, 
continuing in its course striking the right malar or cheek bone be- 
low its prominence, ploughing through the face, severing the nose 
at the bridge and passing out just below the outer angle of the 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 37 

left eye without injury to either. B oth eyes were closed by the tume- 
faction. The wound with its edges everted, and suppurating, pre- 
sented a horrible appearance, and it seemed as if the face had been 
severed from the skull and the upper jaw separated from it two inches, 
" Oh, war, war, war!" nothing but war could do this, exclaimed a 
surgeon as he came in sight of it. We talked with him, re- 
moved some small pieces of bone and dressed the wound which 
only required to be put in position and covered with cold water 
dressings. He seemed much relieved upon being informed that it 
was not necessarily fatal. Upon being asked if he was married 
he answered in the negative, and inquired if the wound was going 
to mar his good looks, at the same time trying to get up a smile, 
but the effort was evidently on the wrong side of the face. "With 
the dressings his face had again assumed something of a human 
appearance. Wounds of the face are proverbial for their quick 
and complete recovery, and in the absence of any complication, 
he undoubtedly was soon well, with no worse deformity than a 
scar across his face. 

About every other building in Fredericksburgh was a hospital. 
Churches, public buildings, stores, dwellings, barns and sheds 
wei;e converted into hospitals, filled with wounded lying on the 
seats, in the pews, aisles and porches of the churches, and on the 
flooi's of the other buildings, without a blanket or even straw 
under them. The country had been literally swept by both 
armies, and neither hay nor straw was left to make a bed for the 
wounded sufferers. More were constantly arriving, and the heavy 
booming of cannon constantly heard in quick succession, was sure 
evidence that the end was not yet. The shrieks of the wounded 
and the groans of the dying, mingled with the roar of artillery, 
made the scene before us appalling. "At one time" (May Oth), 
says a correspondent, "the wounded arrived from the front at 
Fredericksburgh in such large numbers that they lay in the streets 
and upon the pavements. A cavalry patrol ordered out, could not 
do duty, as it was difficult to pass between the rows of wounded 
without trampling upon them." In short, Fredericksburgh was a 
general hospital, without either food or medical stores. The fault 
in not having food and medical stores did not, however, belong to 
the medical department. Surgeon-General J. K. Barnes, U. S. A., 
had made ample provision for the emergency, and the supplies 
and stores were turned over to the quarter-master's department 
for transportation on the first movement of the army, and had 



38 REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

been put on board the cars to be carried directly to Fredericks- 
burgh, but upon arrival at Eappahannock Station, it was discov- 
ered that the bridge there was destroyed. The supplies then had 
to go back to Washington and be transferred to the transport 
boats, carried to Belle Plain, and thence in wagons to Fredericks- 
burgh. Thus the delay and want of everything. 

On our arrival, we immediately commenced our labors, visiting 
the hospitals, dressing the wounded, when we could get anything 
for the purpose, doing what we could for their i-elief and to miti- 
gate their sufferings. Yet, what is the presence of the sin-geon 
without even a rag for dressing, or of the philanthropist without 
a morsel of bread for the hungry ? We wet the wounds and 
reapplied the dressings and bandages of many, changing the posi- 
tion of the wounded and gave them such as was at hand, and even 
a cup of water was received with gratitude. The town was ran- 
sacked for such articles as sheets, pillow cases and linen of all 
descriptions for bandages and dressings, but all that was thus 
obtained amounted to comparatively nothing among so many. 
The destitution of the houses was complete, for what its former 
inhabitants had not carried off, when they fled the city, the Union 
and rebel soldiers had entirely plundered. Had it not been 
for the little supplies and articles of dressing usually carried by 
surgeons, which we had with us, our presence at this time would 
have been of little consequence to our wounded. 

The following morning medical stores and supplies arrived in 
abundance. Never were stores or supplies more welcome, or the 
services of surgeons and assistants more needed. The wounded 
from this time wanted for nothing, and the surgeons no longer 
complained of the " Avant of everything." We remained at Fre- 
dericksburgh until the train, with about two thousand wounded, 
was in readiness to proceed to Belle Plain, which we accompanied, 
as Col, Cuyler, medical inspector, U. S. A., desired our assistance 
at that place. We reached Belle Plain in the afternoon, and 
worked till evening in the tents, dressing wounds and attending 
to the necessities of our soldiers. At the request of Dr. Cuyler, 
I took charge of a load of wounded on board of one of the trans- 
ports, bound for Washington. On board the transport the suffer- 
ers lay in rows, some on stretchers, others on the floor and in 
state-rooms, in the cabins, on the upper and lower decks, in the 
gangways and everywhere closely packed. In this condition, if 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 39 

not able to get up, their wounds were dressed and rations served 
out to them throuorhout the entire nig-ht. 

Great care had to be observed in going from one to another, 
not to step on the wounded in waiting upon them. Wher- 
ever we went the soldiers were more anxious to know how 
the battle had resulted, than for their own safety. They were 
generally in good spirits, and anxious to recover that they 
might rejoin the army. They all stated that good news had 
been read to them while on the field, to the effect that Petersburgh 
had been taken, and General Butler was sure to capture Eichmond. 

At Washington the poor fellows were placed in charge of the 
medical director, and under care of detachments of the V. R. C. 
carried to the U. S. general hospitals. Upon reaching Washing- 
ton, it was our purpose to return directly to Belle Plain for the 
relief of the wounded who were accumulating there with great 
rapidity. Upon my arrival at Washington I found you there 
engaged in urging forward the good work. The next day, with 
the corps of surgeons and nurses which you had organized, you 
proceeded with us to Belle Plain. I quote the following from the 
field correspondent of a leading journal who was on the ground : 
"Every facility was afforded Mr. Seymour and his assistants by 
the government, and they were gladly welcomed to their field of 
labor. A tent was assigned to them and named the Seymour 
tent. Whatever the hands of these gentlemen found to do wa& 
done heartily and with a will. Wounds were dressed, operations- 
performed, cheering words spoken, and thus many sufferers com- 
forted. Everything is being done for the wounded that circum- 
stances will permit, no effort being spared to minister to their 
comfort and supply their wants. ***** It is believed the 
New York volunteer surgeons, assistants and nurses, doing duty 
at Belle Plain, Fredericksburgh and with the army, outnumber 
those from all the other states combined." 

As you are aware, I was reluctantly^ obliged at this time to leave 
Belle Plain, being exhausted from constant watching and care ; 
and taking charge of a transport load of wounded, I reached 
Washington, suffering from an attack of pleurisy and pneumonia 
brought on by exposure. 

City Point. 
The representatives of the New York State agency followed the 
fortunes of our soldiers, and ministered to their wants through the 



40 REPOKT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

dreadful days that ensued at the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, White 
House, Cold Harbor, and Petersburgh — at the latter place using 
City Point for the corps hospitals. Here I rejoined them on the 
21st of June. There was about ten thousand wounded in these 
hospitals. The army supplies and medical stores were brought here 
with great facility by aid of the Potomac and James rivers. The Sani- 
tary and Christian commissions, the German Eelief Association, 
and the State agencies, were all dispensing their noble charities, 
and the system of relief was as complete as any organization out 
of the army could be. A large New York tent was placed at the 
head of the " State line," which is to-day dispensing its relief to 
the soldiers of our State. We were detailed for special duty with the 
sixth corps hospital, which was immediately organized and put in 
good condition. There were tents for all its wounded, and to spare. 
Some of the other corps hospitals were not yet so well arranged, 
and large numbers of wounded were under the small shelter-tents, 
and some of them lying in the sun without beds or straw. There 
was yet, as I fouud, a want of medical attendance in some of the 
departments. The few remaining wants of the camp were not due 
to any lack of proper arrangements by the Medical Department 
at Washington. A medical inspector was needed, and a little more 
executive ability in the supervision of the camp would have reme- 
died the somewhat increasing margin of loose management, which 
is so apt to occur. 

I am happy to state that on my return these evils were remedied 
by the presence of a medical director, and a temporary change in 
the control of the medical staff of the army was soon apparent by 
the better arrangement of the camp. Water-tanks were erected 
and filled by steam-engines, which forced the water up the high 
banks, Avhich, at this place, bound the Appomattox, and by this 
means a bountiful supply of the health-giving element was fur- 
nished to man and beast, besides keeping the streets of the camp 
well sprinkled during the dry and dusty days. A covered pavil- 
ion or arbor of evergreen boughs extended along in front of the 
wards, so that all the tents could be visited without exposure to 
the burning sun. Evergreens were placed around the other tents 
also; and but for the jarring of the cannon at Petersburgh, and 
the maimed and sick before us, it would have required but a short 
stretch of the imagination to make it a fairy-scene, instead of the 
closinj? act of the dreadful war drama in which we are enoraofed. 



FOB SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 41 

Government Hospit,4LS. 
The United States general hospitals are chiefly wooden struc- 
tures, having been erected since the commencement of the war, 
which, with the recent improvements for hygienic purposes, have 
become permanent, and are much healthier than the buildings for- 
merly used for that purpose, from their superior mode of ventila- 
tion — the ridge ventilation being used in warm weather, and in 
the winter the ridge is closed and shafts substituted. Each hospi- 
tal consists of a number of wards, and each ward is provided with 
beds to accommodate from fifty to one hundred patients, with bath- 
ing apartments and accommodations for the attendants. The hos- 
pitals have a capacity to accommodate from five hundred to three 
thousand patients; and, when emergencies require it, can be 
enlarged by the addition of tents. They are well lighted — genei'ally 
having a window for each bed, and at night by gas-light. The 
hospitals are supplied Avith water either from mains or springs. In 
some localities tanks have been erected (which are filled hy en- 
gines), at a sufBcient elevation to carry water to all parts of the 
hospitals. Many of them have printing presses for printing copies 
of orders and other matter, thereby saving much time and expense. 
Some of them publish a paper for distribution among the patients, 
and to subscribers, which are edited and conducted by the inmates. 
Each hospital has a surgeon in chai-ge (whose duty is both profes- 
sional and executive), with a sufficient number of assistant surgeons, 
and a chaplain. 

United States General Hospitals ik and about Washington 
AND their Location. 
Armory Square hospital, Seventh street, west, between C and D, 
south; Carver hospital. Fourteenth street, at terminus of City Rail- 
road ; Columbian hospital. Fourteenth street, at terminus of City 
Railroad; Campbell hospital, Seventh street, west, at terminus of 
City Railroad; Desmarre' hospitals (formerly the Eye and Ear In- 
firmary), at present used for the treatment of venereal diseases, 
Fourteenth street; Douglass hospital, corner of I street and New 
Jersey avenue; Eckington hospital (a branch of Finley), on Gales' 
farm, northeast of city; Emory hospital, near alms-house, east of 
the Capitol; Finley hospital, Kendall Green, Fourth street, north- 
east of city; Hare wood hospital, Corcoran's farm, Seventh street, 
west; Judiciary Square hospital, Judiciary square, Louisiana ave- 
nue; Kalorama (small-pox) hospital. Rock creek, out Twenty-second 
street; Lincoln hospital, one mile east of the Capitol; Mount Pleas- 



42 REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

ant hospital, on Twentieth street, one-half mile beyond the city 
limits; Seminary hospital, Georgetown; (Officers' hospital) corner 
of Gay and Greene streets; Stone hospital (Prison hospital) Four- 
teenth street, beyond Carver hospital; St. Elizabeth hospital (In- 
sane asylum) beyond Navy Yard, west; St. Aloysius hospital, 
Swampoodle, North Capitol and K streets; Stanton hospital, cor- 
ner I street and New Jersey avenue. 

There are also a large number of camp hospitals in and about 
Washington, but are only designed for use of the camps. 

The U. S. general hospitals of Alexandria, Va., are in divisions. 
First, second and third divisions having their branches located in 
different parts of the city, in churches, public buildings and 
dwellings. Fairfax seminary hospital is near Alexandria, Va. 

These hospitals have been visited and inspected, from time to 
time, with especial reference to the condition and care of our 
sick and wounded. They are unsurpassed in neatness and cleanli- 
ness, and ai-e all the public service demands, and the well-being 
of the soldiers requires. The surgeons rank among the first to be 
found in any country, and have made the hospitals in all respects 
an honor to the nation and a home to the unfortunate who have 
been maimed and disabled in their country's service. 

This agency has, by your direction, furnished many of the gene- 
ral and camp hospitals supplies and stimulants not provided by 
government, which could not be obtained from the store- houses of 
the Sanitary or Christian commission, and forwarded delicacies and 
stimulants to the corps hospitals and on the battle-field, where of 
all places the wounded soldier should receive timely aid. 
Special Duties of the Office. 

During the past year the number of applications at the agency 
for special transfer and furlough averaged twenty-five daily, 
making in the aggregate nearly ten thousand, of which number 
about three thousand were granted. These special ti'ansfers and 
furloughs do not include the general transfer of our soldiers, nor 
the wounded from the battle-fields, able to bear transportation, 
for whom we procured either furloughs or transfers to their native 
State immediately on their arrival in the general hospitals ; but 
only to those applying personally or by letter to our office. These 
general transfers, in which New York soldiers are transferred 
directly to their own State, we were instrumental in obtaining, 
whenever large numbers of wounded were in the hospitals. Taking 
into consideration the amount of labor incurred and the necessary 



FOB SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 43 

correspondence incident to these special cases, the irregularities 
and imperfections of many of the papers, this branch alone has 
demanded untiring perseverance and industry. 

In conclusion, I desire to tender my acknowledgments to Sur- 
geon-General J. K. Barnes, U. S. A., and to the officers of the 
various medical bureaus of this department for their uniform 
courtesy and attention — their willingness to furnish the necessary 
facilities to aid us on all occasions in the discharge of our duties 
as medical commissioner of the State in behalf of our soldiers. 
Enabling us as far as possible to carry out the wise and intelli- 
gent system designed by his excellency. Governor Seymour, and 
which has, under our supervision and direction, been so judiciously 
and humanely administered for the welfare of the soldiers of New 
York. 

Very truly and respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

JAMES L. BABCOCK, M. D., 
Medical Oommissioner for the State of New York. 

The following interesting letter from Dr. Babcock serves inci- 
dentally to demonstrate some of the numerous frauds in relation 
to recruiting, which, under the vigilant observation of the State 
Agency, are discovered and exposed. 

Washington, D. C, Feb. 26, 1864. 
Hon. John F. Seymgue, 

Ge7ieral Agent for the State of New York: 

Dear Sir — In my visits to the camp hospitals, my attention was 
repeatedly directed to the large number of conscripts, and also 
some recruits, who were utterly useless to the government, as 
their physical disabilities unfitted them for the service, yet who 
were passed by the examining surgeons as fit for the field. These 
examining surgeons are connected with the difierent recruiting 
stations of our State, and are appointed by ofiicers of the govern- 
ment to examine recruits and conscripts previous to their entering 
the service.* It is usually expected that recruits are able-bodied 
men, and fit to enter the service on enlistment, but this, I find, is 
not always so. 

A few days since an enlisted soldier called at our office, who had 
extensive varicose ulcers on the legs, of long standing, requesting 

*I am informed the Provoat Marshal General appoints the surgeons who examine con- 
scripts. ■ ;.t,iirjn"' 



44 REPORT OP THE GENERAL AGENT 

me to intercede in his behalf, as he was unable to perform mili- 
tary clutj^, that he might be admitted to a general hospital for 
treatment. I addressed a note to the surgeon in charge of Lincoln 
General Hospital, soliciting an examination of the soldier for admis- 
sion to the hospital. In the endorsement on my application the 
surgeon stated " he had ordered the soldier for treatment, and 
that he (the soldier) had been in the service only six months, that 
his enlistment was fraudulent, and that he was now. aiming at a 
discharge, adding to his list of frauds for the purpose of again 
enlisting. 

While I do not doubt the correctness of the surgeon's opinion 
of the intentions of the soldier, I must disagree with him 
as to who was responsible for this fraudulent enlistment. 
It was very evident to me, and also to the surgeon in charge of 
the hospital to which the soldier was admitted for treatment, that 
he was unfit for the service when enlisted, and the examining sur- 
geon who passed him did so either through gross carelessness or 
intention to defraud the government, and in either case equally 
censurable. 

The soldier referred to had received his bounty and been repre- 
sented as an able-bodied man, fit for the service, by the surgeon 
who examined him. 

This is but one of the many cases which have come under my 
notice. 

The greatest number of disabled conscripts are to be found in 
the camps and camp hospitals, whither they are sent preparatory 
to joining their regiments. I saw drafted men at Camp Stone- 
man, (Giesboro Point, D. C.,) who had been brought hundreds of 
miles from the utmost boundaries of our State, from their homes, 
with incurable diseases, unfit even to endure the journey. Such 
men, brought into the service to swell and strengthen our army, 
but which in reality they never see. Here they are brought and 
here they remain and die, as many of them do, without having 
been of any service to the government whatever, only incurring 
an unnecessary and useless expense. 

The surgeon in charge of the Hospital Camp Stoneman was 
perplexed in regard to what disposition should be made of these 
soldiers, (as they had so recently been brought there previous to 
joining their commands,) yet fully satisfied of their utter worth- 
lessness to the service, from the character of their physical disabili- 
ties. I suggested he discharge those permanently disabled, re- 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 45 

port their conditions on admission to the hospital, name of the 
surgeon who examined and passed them, if he could do so, toge- 
ther with his action, to Surgeon General Barnes, U. S. A. 

What course was pursued, with reference to these men, I am 
not informed, except in a few instances, where some were dis- 
charged. 

That you may judge of the condition of many of these con- 
scripts, I send you the following list of diseases I there found 
amonor them : 

Tuberculosis (consumption), with the hectic flush of the disease 
already on their cheeks ; scrofula ; organic cardiac disease ; al- 
buminaria, or Bright's disease of the kidney ; rachitis (curved 
spine, deformed chest) ; morbus coxarius, or hip disease ; con- 
genital mal-formation of the limbs, as in one case, by actual mea- 
surement, one limb was found two inches shorter than the other, 
and the muscles undeveloped ; epilepsy, and even idiocy. 

Such men, or rather diseased masses, were passed under exami- 
nation of surgeons and inspection of officers, as fit for the service. 
It was, indeed, a sorry picture to contemplate, when such abuses 
were perpetrated and escaped unpunished. I reported the above 
facts to the Medical Department at Washington, and was informed 
they had no direct power to correct these evils, but that this mat- 
ter would be officially laid before the honorable, the Secretaiy of 
war, with the request a board of surgeons be appointed to investi- 
gate this subject, and correct these abuses, which was filling the 
hospitals with invalids, requiring a detail of well men to care for 
and nurse them, which might otherwise be in the field. 

I considered it the duty of this agency to interpose and aid in 
correcting existing wrongs, at least as far as it concerned the 
interests of our State, and trust that the efibrts of this office have 
aided in some degree to arrest and expose instances of attempted 
fraud and imposition on the seiwice. 

Very truly, your obedient servant, 

JAMES L. BABCOCK, M. D., 

Med. Com. for State of JSTew YovJc. 



40 REPORT OP THE GENERAL AGENT 

(No. 2.) 
Miss Rockwell's Report. 

Haeewood Hospital, Washington. 
Learning there was need of more help in the care of our wound- 
ed soldiers, Miss Meeker and I left home the 23d of May, intend- 
ing to go to Washington and there determine where we were most 
needed. Almost the first person, we met was Mr. John Seymour, 
who very kindly provided us work at once in the N. Y. agency. 
We were novices in. the work, having never been jn a hospital, 
but possessed of good common sense, sincere love for the soldier, 
and the desire to do all in our power to alleviate the suflferings of 
those who had so cheerfully sacrificed so much for tis all. Our 
field of labor was Harewood hospital, the most delightfully located 
of the hospitals surrounding Washington. Mr. Seymour gave us 
so pleasant an introduction to the surgeon in charge, and his 
charming wife, as to secure for us the kindest of treatment, access 
to every portion of the buildings, every facility for carrying out 
our wishes, and the assurance that we were welcome visitors. 
We carried with us from home large trunks of stores. The Sani- 
tary Commission was soon open to us, and we learned to appre- 
ciate its unspeakable worth more and more as we witnessed its 
workings. Our first visit to the hospital was on a rainy day. My 
friend took one side of the ward and I the other, with our hands 
full of newspapers to serve as an introduction to the seventy 
heroes that occupied those low beds. But"^ an introduction was 
scarcely necessary ; they knew by intuition we had come to minis- 
ter to their wants, and their brightening faces as we drew near, 
gave evidence that they were glad to see us. We carried with us 
note books, to put down whatever was asked for. At first the 
men were quite diffident about expressing their wants, but after 
talking a few moments they would feel we were interested in and 
desirous to do something for them. A hand would be put under 
the pillow, an old woi'n pocket book drawn out, then a photo- 
graph of some loved friend would be shown us — the heart was 
open to us, and our hold upon it secured. At first we were mostly 
occupied in writing letters, for many had had no opportunity to 
let their friends know that they were wounded or where they 
were, even were they able to write, having lost everything on the 
battle-field, so they were without paper or the means of procuring 
it, and the chaplain and nurses were so constantly occupied with 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 47 

their other duties as to have little time for writing. Then there 
were cases of home sickness, where all that was needed was a few 
cheerful words. Others needed light reading to divert and occupy 
the mind. So we passed from bed to bed, finding what was 
wanted, putting down in our books the number of the bed, ward 
and request, and promising to bring it on the morrow. To indi- 
cate the character, etc., notice the following list called for one 
day : Eggnogg, sherry wine, envelopes, jelly, peaches, blackberry 
brandy, spelling book, tobacco, pickles, oranges, lemons, shirts, 
socks, drawers, slippers, sugar, condensed milk, sponge cake. Har- 
per, and crutches. The ward surgeon was always consulted before 
giving the patients the edibles called for, and often suggested 
articles he thought might prove beneficial. Our kind friends at 
home kept us constantly supplied with money to use in behalf of 
the suflfering soldiers, so we were able to procure almost every 
delicacy that was asked for. Many of the men had not received 
their pay for several months. We took their names, company, 
regiment, &c.; sent them to the paymaster, and if their company 
rolls had been forwarded, in every case they received their pay 
promptly. Our mornings were spent in preparing for the hospi- 
tal, procuring supplies from the Sanitary Commission, or purchas- 
ing articles we could not obtain there. We had so many letters 
to write for the soldiers, we merely took notes at the hospital and 
then wrote the letters after we came home, so that we might de- 
vote the more time to the soldiers. At noon we started for the 
hospital, carrying with us our haversacks (furnished by the Sani- 
tary Commission) filled to overflowing, and just as much more as 
our arms would hold. We met with many thrilling incidents. 
Home was the key-note that touched the heart. One noble boy 
from Wisconsin, onl}^ eighteen years old, just at the close of the 
battle of Coal Harbor, while charging the enemy's works, was 
severely wounded below the knee. The poor boy lay on the 
ground all night and the next day, suffering from hunger, thirst, 
and his wound. Then his leg was amputated, and he started on 
his long, tiresome ride to Washington. Perfectly exhausted, so 
far from home, so young and tender hearted, no one whom he 
knew near him — no wonder the tears flowed freely when I asked 
him what I could do for him. "Please write to my mother ; I 
am her baby, and it will most kill her to know Pve lost my leg," 
he said, sobbing as though his heart would break. He was very 
patient, and his poor old father came to him as soon as he received 



48 REPORT OF TILE GENERAL AGENT 

my letter, and bad the satisfaction of being with his boy the last 
two days he spent on earth, and then carried his body home to 
rest. The gratitude of that aged man for the little we had done 
for his son, for writing him so that he was enabled to come to 
him, was touching in the extreme. Another young man, from 
Geneva, was brought in the same ambulance train, and plead so 
earnestly for his mother, we promised to telegi-aph her at once. 
She arrived at midnight, and entered the ward just as her son 
breathed 'his last. After the first anguish had passed, she, too, 
expressed deep gratitude that word had been sent her at the 
earliest practicable moment. She had the satisfaction of knowing 
he had been well cared for, and could take him home with her. 
One poor fellow, wasted with consumption, whose mother died 
some time since, dropped from his pocket book a little paper, and 
on my handing it to him, said, " you may read it." 

" There is a green sunny island deep down in my soul. 
Where the winds never blow, and the waves never roll, 
And sweet sounds, never ceasing, come wafted to me — 
That isle, dearest mother, is memory of thee." 

One man exclaimed, " why, it made my blood run cold from 
my thyoat to my toes, when you said you come clear from New 
York to look after us." But the saddest place of all was the 
gangrene ward, for here was suffering of the severest kind ; and 
it was touching to see the tears run down their cheeks, while with 
quivering voices they thanked us for coming to see them. Dr. 
Bontecou, the assistant surgeons, ward masters and nurses all 
treated us with marked courtesy and consideration, and were so 
kind as to express much regret when we left. During the two 
months we remained we were strongly impressed with the convic- 
tion that the system of visitation carried on by the State agencies. 
Sanitary and Christian Commissions, is most beneficial in its re- 
sults to the soldiers — bestowing upon them care and attention 
they could not otherwise I'cceive, affording them many needed 
delicacies, sending relief to the anxious friends at home — and the 
many daily " God bless yous " from the soldiers, and the sorrow 
they manifested when we left, showed most plainly that they ap- 
preciated all that was done for their comfort by these agencies. 
And We feel deeply indebted to the gentlemen of the Sanitary 
Commission, to Col. North and Mr. Seymour for facilitating our 
efforts. M. K. EOCKWELL. 

Utica, Dec. 20, 1864. 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 49 

(No. 3.) 

Da. M. M. Baggs' Report to the New York State Agency, 

Washington. 

John F. Seymour, Esq., General Agent for the Relief 

of the Sick and Wounded Soldiers of the State of JVew York: 

Dear Sii- — The following report, prepared at your request, is a 
brief statement of the services performed by me in June |ind July 
last, "while employed by the New York State Agency, among the 
soldiers within the hospitals of the city of Washington and its 
vicinity. Of the written returns of each day's visits, which I 
made to Col. North at the office of the agency, I have preserved 
no copies, and am unable therefore to present more than a bare 
outline, illustrative of the nature of the duties and the method of 
their performance. 

Commencing the service on the 15th day of June, I continued 
to make daily visits to the hospitals until the 14th day of July. 
The institutions assigned me for most frequent visitation were 
Douglass and Stanton within the city, Finley and Eckington on its 
outskirts, and Camp Stoneman, near Giesboro. A thorough in- 
spection of each ward of these general hospitals was made four 
times, and a similar inspection of Camp Stoneman three times. 
Campbell, Armory Square, and several wards of Harewood, were 
each twice gone over in the same manner, besides more cursory 
visits, occasioned, for the most part, by a call to execute therein 
some particular commission, to five other hospitals within the city, 
to those of the 2d division at Alexandria, to Fairftix Seminary 
hospital and to the Seminary hospital at Georgetown. 

It was my custom to repair in the morning to the office of the 
agency, where I received an assignment of my duties for the day 
and a notification of any especial matters that needed attention. 
These commonly consisted of responses to applications for aid 
made by soldiers in the difiei'ent institutions. Such applications, 
which were presented constantly and in large numbers, were placed 
for investigation in the hands of the different visitors. Receiving my 
share of them, I set out for the hospital, making it my business while 
there to inquire not only into the cases already brought to my 
notice, but also, when time allowed, to see and converse with every 
New York soldier lying in its wards. I endeavoi-ed, in accordance 
with my instructions, while dropping him a word of sympathy and 
encouragement, to ascertain what were his wants; if he needed 

[Senate, No. 83.] 4 



50 REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

any thing which was not supplied by the hospital authorities, such 
as clothing, cordials, and delicacies to quicken a languid appetite; 
writing materials or an amanuensis, tobacco, &c., &c.; if he suffered 
from neglect on the part of the nurses, ward-masters, or other 
attendants; if any portion of his State bounty, or of his pay from 
the General Government, was still due him; in short, if he stood 
in need of any thing that a sick or wounded soldier ought to have, 
and which his own State could and ought to furnish. At the close 
of each day's visitation, returns were made to Col. North, which 
included, beside a general statement of the condition of the hospital 
and its inmates, a complete list of all the necessities made known 
by the patients. On the following day the required articles were 
carried by porters of the office to the ward-masters of the various 
wards, to be by them distributed, if approved by the surgeons, to 
the needy expectants. Measures were also taken to secure back 
pay, whether from the State or the United States, to those who 
claimed to be entitled thereto. In the former case, that namely 
where some portion of the State bounty was still due, these con- 
sisted in procuring from the agent of the Paymaster General of 
New York the requisite blanks and conveying them to the soldier 
for his signature. In the latter case the course pursued was to 
inform the Regimental Paymasters, if resident in the city of Wash- 
ington, of the fact that such claimants were in the city and in 
want, and the name and number of the hospital, ward and bed, 
where they might be found. The necessitous of every kind were 
in each case relieved as far as was practicable; the articles they 
had asked for it was ascertained on a subsequent visit had been 
brought them; communication had been opened with their pay- 
master, while the form necessary to enable them to draw the State 
bounty myself or some other visitor had the pleasure of putting 
into their hands. Complaints which were at any time made of 
neglect by the subordinates of the hospital, were at once brought 
to the notice of the sui-geon in charge of the institution from 
which they emanated. Of charges preferred against the surgical 
officers themselves I am happy to say there were none, if I except 
only the superior officer of the Post hospital at Giesboro. On 
the contrary the soldiers with one accord expressed their entire 
satisfaction with the attention, kindness and skill with which they 
were treated by the surgeons under whose care they were placed- 
At Camp Stoneman, however, the facts were otherwise; here 
complaints were rife and were apparently justified by the negli- 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 51 

gence and inhumanity of the surgeon in charge. For although 
this camp undoubtedly contained a large number of unwilling and 
worthless soldiei's, who were ready to assume any pretence of dis- 
ability in order to escape from duty, there were beside numerous 
cases of real and permanent disability, who were maintained at 
the expense of Government when there was scarce a possibility of 
their ever again doing it service in the field. These men were the 
subjects of chronic rheumatism, chronic bronchitis, phthisis, dis- 
ease of the heart, dropsy, cataract, disease of the bones and joints, 
badly united fractures, &c., and several of them were beside ad- 
vanced in years. The men of this hospital were constantly be- 
sieging the agency with prayers for its intercession in their behalf. 
I was informed by the sur2;eon in charg-e that althou2;h it was con- 
trary to his instructions to recommend any men of his hospital for 
furlough, ^transfer or discharge, unless in his judgment such change 
was " essential to the continuance of their lives," yet it was per- 
mitted him to present for such purposes the names of those whom 
he deemed suitable cases, provided the initiative in the matter was 
taken by the authorities of the State to which they belonged; 
that is to say, the condition of these men having been inquired 
into by competent persons in the employ of their State, and they 
having been named to him as fit subjects for furlough, transfer or 
discharge, he might then at his option recommend the same to the 
medical director. How far his assertions as to the limitation of 
his powers were to be relied on as correct I am unable to say, 
though it is to be feared that the greater comparative stringency 
of the regulations under which his hospital was governed were 
made the excuse for the indalgeuce of an amount of neglect and 
caprice that were unpardonable. Acting, however, on his repre- 
sentation, a professional examination was made of all the New 
York men contained within this hospital, and lists were prepared 
of such, as in consequence of permanent disabilty, should, in my 
judgment, be confined there no longer. These lists were returned 
by Col. North to the surgeon in charge, accompanied with the 
request on his part that they be discharged or removed. Although 
much less was accomplished for the relief of these sufierers than 
was desired, yet I am confident in the belief that several soldiers 
who had been useless to the Government, thus restrained of 
their liberty and denied the advantages which a change to their 
native air and the society of their friends might in all probability 
have afibrdcd them, were set free or transferred to some more con- 



52 REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

genial locality mainly through the efforts of the State agency. 
Fortunately other, and perhaps more serious crimes of this un- 
worthy officer, came, at this time, to the knowledge of the Govern- 
ment, and he was dismissed the sei*vice. 

In concluding this description of the kind of duties I was called 
on to perform, as one of the visitors temporarily employed by your 
agency, I cannot forbear to express my obligations to Col. North 
and his associates for the uniform courtesy which, amid the press 
of their multifarious duties and the crowd who daily thronged the 
office, they showed towards me pei'sonally, for the facilities afforded 
me in the discharge of my duties, and the interest and zeal with 
which they co-operated in any measures taken for the welfare of 
the unfortunate class whose interests they were appointed to sub- 
serve. 

Eespectfully submitted, 

Utica, Dec. 2lst, 1864. M. M. "BAGG. 



(No. 4.) 
Dr. E. H. Thurston's Report. 

New York State Agency, 181 Pennsylvania Avenue, 1 
Washington, October, 1864. \ 

I have the honor to submit the following report of my labors 
in connection with this agency since June last : My attention was 
first directed to visiting hospitals with reference to ascertaining 
the condition and supplying the wants of our sick and wounded 
soldiers. My visitations were for some time confined princijjally 
to Columbian, Carver, Mount Pleasant, Armory Square and Judi- 
ciary Square U. S. A. Gcnei^al Hospitals. In these visits soldiers 
and officers were always conversed with freely and pleasantly on 
various subjects, and thus usually without asking direct questions^ 
such as would be painful to a sensitive mind, their wants were 
incidentally learned, a memorandum book kept for the purpose 
serving to note such facts and wants as seemed to demand atten- 
tion. It Avould be impossible for one not fully conversant with 
the life of the soldier to imagine his strange and varied wants ; 
neither can they be learned by a hurried and business-like visit 
alone, but by entering the hospital with a warm, sjanpathizing 
heart and speaking to the soldier, with eyes upon his face, and 
interest for him in your voice, telling him you are from his own 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 63 

State and anxious to do him favor ; his heart is soon all thrown 
open to you, he tells you of himself, of his home and friends, his 
hopes and fears and desires. I have often seen the tear steal down 
the cheek of the stout-hearted veteran, as pointing to his ampu- 
tated limb, he would say : I did my part until I got this at 
Petersburgh, or in the Wilderness, or wherever it might be, and I 
have now been three months in hospital, have received no pay for 
five or perhaps six months, and I fear my poor wife and little 
ones may suffer, never thinking of his own loss. The omnipresent 
note book is produced, his name, company and regiment are 
noted ; his paymaster is sought and requested to go to the hospital 
and pay these cases, many of which, coming in after battle, and 
having been so constantly on the march as to prevent paymasters 
from reaching them, have been for six and eight months without 
pa3^ In one instance I obtained back pay for an officer amount- 
ing to thirteen hundred dollars. This was at Armory Square, in 
the case of Lieut. Brophey, of the 27th Michigan regiment. Many 
times when paymasters could not well leave to go to hosjDitals, I 
obtained blank rolls and filling them out returned them to his 
office when their accounts were cashed. It is but a just tribute to 
the paymasters of this department to say they have seldom been 
solicited to see to cases of this sort without making immediate 
response — in some instances going two miles to pay a single man. 
Hospitals in this department are now, however, paid systematically 
at the end of every two months, by Major Eaton, U. S. A., who is 
one of the most patriotic and energetic men in the service, going 
at all times, in sun and in storm, that none may complain of a 
want of money when he has it. The wants of soldiei-s, in respect 
to clothing, have ever received prompt attentian, the supplies be- 
ing obtained to some extent from benevolent societies in the State, 
but principally from the U. S. Sanitary Commission, Avho have 
invariably filled all requisitions made by me for supplies for needy 
soldiers ; and while we have paid special attention to the wants of 
our own soldiers, in these supplies of clothing, food and delicacies, 
yet it is but just to ourselves to say, no soldier, from any State, 
who was found needy, was ever neglected. I often heard com- 
plaints from the soldiers of other states, saying there was a lack 
of the special care and sympathy which was so manifested by New 
York, and I am convinced that while general agents from the 
Sanitary and Christian Commissions ai*e doing noble work and 
accomplishing great good, yet officei's and soldiers feel the 



64 REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

close relations of agents directly from their own States, and at per- 
fect liberty to call on them for assistance, when they would not 
do so in case of general agents. They claim as their rightful 
heritage from us what they would feel was but charity from other 
sources ; and although the visitor must meet with much that is 
disagreeable and unpleasant, yet the satisfaction of relieving the 
sufferings and smoothing the paths of those who suffer in a com- 
mon cause is enough to compensate for all privation or difficulty. 
About the middle of July I was called away from the visiting 
of hospitals to perform duty in the general office. Here I 
was brought more directly in contact with another branch of 
assistance to our soldiers — that of obtaining furloughs and trans- 
fers to State and discharge. This part of the agents' duties I find 
not easy to perform, as much discretion and caution was necessary. 
in presenting cases soliciting assistance in these several matters, to 
present for the action of military and medical officers, as far as 
possible, only such as should seem most worthy and entitled to 
favorable consideration. Notwithstanding the utmost care, how- 
ever, through the importunities of soldiers and their friends, many 
cases not justly entitled to that which was requested, must have 
been presented to the medical director and to the surgeons in 
charo-e of hospitals ; and the agency cannot render too hearty 
thanks to Surgeon E. O. Abbott, medical director of this depart- 
ment, and to his assistants, assistant surgeons W. A. Bradly and 
J. D. Middleton, for the cordial consideration and prompt atten- 
tion to all cases presented, referring them to their pi-oper source for 
examination and action. Brigadier General J. K. Barnes, the sur- 
geon general, was also ever ready to listen to any matters pre- 
sented to him, and to assist and favor our wishes when consistent 
with the regulations of the army. It was ever my aim to avoid pre- 
sentino- any matter, in an manner offensive to medical or military 
authority. Many special cases, such as that of a mother claiming 
the discharge of a son as a means of support (the father having 
deceased since his enlistment), were presented to the Secretary of 
war, through the office of the Adjutant General, and invariably 
received prompt, and where possible, favorable attention, from 
Col. Samuel Brcck, the assistant Adjutant General. Indeed the 
relations of this office with all official bureaus in this department 
have been of the most amicable and satisfactory nature. In numer- 
ous instances, in their anxiety to secure what was desired, large 
sums of money were offered our agents, for services rendered, but 



i 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 55 

in no one instance, to may knowledge, since may connjection with 
the office, was a single dollar received. In a single day ($90,00) 
ninety dollars was urged upon me for assistance in obtaining dis- 
charges and furloughs. We have felt, that as representatives of 
our State and its people at home, for their sons and brothers, such 
gains would be most dishonorable, and I have always taken pains 
to answer such soldiers that as much would be done as if it were 
received. Many important improvements have been made in and 
about the hospitals during the year. The experience of three 
years of war having taught our surgeons may things before un- 
known and untried, so that at present our hospitals are conducted 
in a most systematic and orderly manner. The guards and nurses 
are fui'nishcd principally from partially disabled soldiers in the 
Vetern Reserve Corps. A smaller number of deaths have occur, 
red for the number of patients, than any previous year of the war, 
and no epidemic has visited this city during the past season, not- 
withstanding its extreme heat and dryness, and the great number 
of sick and wounded massed in so limited a space .This I think due 
almost entirely to the especial attention paid to the hygienic and 
sanitary condition of the hospitals, and the special enforcement of 
personal cleanliness on the part of patients by army medical 
officers. These hundreds of warm hearts and willing hands ever 
ready to minister to the comfort and care of those who fight for 
their country's flag and the preservation of its laws, among whom 
are noble women, " not a few." Our own State has reason to be 
proud of those who have represented her " in the city of hospitals" — 
ladies bred in delicacy and refinement, and whom nothing but the 
highest and purest feelings of philanthropy and patriotism could 
have induced to leave their parlors and the surroundmg of home, 
ease and luxury, I have seen mingling in scenes and enduring, 
for many mouths, fatigue which would discourage and exhaust 
those of a sterner mind. I hope our State officers may never 
grow unmindful of the importance and the utility of keeping up 
that connecting link between home and friends which every soldier 
feels he possesses in the intelligent and judicious State agent. 
Hoping the above report may incite others to assist, comfort and 
encourage our brave soldiers, I have the honor to be 
Eespectfully your obedient servant, 

E- H. THURSTON. 



56 REPORT OP THE GENERAL AGENT 

(No. 5.) 
Dr. W. B. Coventry's Report of the Agency of Alexandria, 
Mr. John F. Seymour : 

Sir — 111 response to your request, made to me tliis A. m., to make 
a report of the New York State Agency, during the time it was 
under my care at Alexandria, Va., and my experience during the 
time I was acting under the auspices of the New York State 
Agency, I beg leave to present the following report, preniising 
with the remark that all the papers (notes taken at the time) in 
relation to the transactions of the agency, together with my own 
private records, have been left at Alexandria for reference at the 
office there, and, consequently, I have to depend upon my recol- 
lection of those -transactions for the facts contained in this report. 
And I desire to state, in addition to the above remarks, that I 
regret exceedingly that I am not allowed the time necessary to 
procure those records, as they would enable me to show with more 
certainty and accuracy the benefit rendered to the soldiers of the 
army of the United States by the agency. 

I think it was May 13^h, 1864, when I received from you a tele- 
gram requesting me to proceed to Washington, D. C, and, if 
possible, to have accompany me M. M. Jones and wife and Merritt 
Peckham. I immediately responded to the call, and assumed the 
responsibility of accepting Miss Kipp (who, anxious to serve her 
country and its suffering soldiers, volunteered her services as one 
of the party). 

"We found, in New York city, the State Agency office in active 
operation, and, as I should judge, of great benefit to the soldiers 
from our State. 

Arriving in Washington May 18th, I found ample work for all 
with kind hearts and kind hands to do. Visititing, as I did, sev- 
eral hospitals, in association with others connected with the agency, 
I saw many scenes which freshened my memory of days and nights 
passed in hospitals upon battle fields, and I made my best endeav- 
ors to ameliorate the sufierings of the thousands^of the sick and 
wounded I saw there. 

I take pleasure in mentioning the fact that the surgeons in charge 
of these hospitals always received the visitors connected with the 
agency with courtesy and treated them kindly. 

Finding, upon visiting some of the hospitals at Alexandria, Va., 
that the wants of .the sick and wounded were much greater there 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 57 

than in Washington, I reported that fact to the agency at Washing- 
ton. About the first of June I was assigned to duty at Alexandria. 
I found Mr. Daniel Bryan (who was acting under the auspices of 
the agency) and his kind and patriotic wife doing all in their power 
to relieve the suifering of those on every side. I found Alexandria 
to be a city of hospitals, the majority of the inhabitants being 
persons who were sick or wounded in consequence of exposure in 
camp or on the field of battle. There were, at that time, in 
Alexandria, or the immediate vicinit}^, more than (20) twenty hos- 
pitals, every one of which was either in active operation or in 
process of construction. These hospitals contained nearly twenty 
thousand men. The matrons and others had to go or send to 
Washington to draw supplies from the Sanitary Commission of such 
luxuries as the government did not furnish. I found the Christian 
Commission in active operation in Alexandria, the members visit- 
ing the hospitals, and I derived much pleasure from my association 
with them and in furnishing to them such supplies as they called 
for, when I had the supplies to furnish. I think that the State 
Agency and Christian Commission, by working in concert and 
harmony, were mutually beneficial. 

Mr. Bryan, of Alexandria, Mr. John Callahan, of New York 
city. Major Trowbridge, of the army, and myself established an 
office at No. 7 South Eoyal street. We had cards printed and cir- 
culated in all the hospitals, giving infoi'mation regarding State 
agencies in Alexandria, Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and 
New York city. We wrote letters to newspapers, aid societies, 
and private individuals at the north, describing the needs of the 
soldiers aii'd appealing for help in aiding them. We soon were 
enabled to draw what we required from the Sanitary Commission, 
and were consequently better able to satisfy the requests of the 
soldiers, nurses, matrons and surgeons when they called upon us 
for luxuries or necessities. After we began to draw extensively 
from the Sanitary Commission, we furnished agents from other 
States. We published the agency in the newspapers of the place, 
and were kindly allowed to use a portion of the editorial columns 
to call the attention of the soldiers to the agency. Owing to the 
number of hospitals and patients, and our limited sources of sup- 
plies at the time of the first organization of the agency, some of 
the demands upon us for assistance could not be satisfied, and, in 
consequence, the agencies were criticised somewhat by disappointed 
persons. 



5S REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

I 

Owing to the kindness of two army officers, we were allowed 
the gratuitous use of a horse and carriage for the purpose of 
carrying hospital visitants and the luxuries they conveyed to the 
different hospitals. The depot quarter-master's department fur- 
nished us transportation for heavy articles. In fact all persons in 
the employ of the government used their best endeavors to assist 
us in our benevolent work. 

Not only the assistant sui'geons in immediate charge of the 
patients, but the surgeons in charge of the different divisions fur- 
nished all aid in their power and encouragement to us. 

During jDart of the time while I was on duty at Alexandria, 
nearly every hospital in the place was daily visited by some one 
connected Avith the agency. When, owing to the extreme heat 
and the fatigue attendant upon their labors, our hospital visitants 
became sick and were compelled to return to their homes, we 
relied upon the surgeons, matrons, nurses and soldiers to call upon 
us for information and sanitary stores. 

We kept on file most of the time at the office of the agency 
newspapers from central New York, to enable soldiers from that 
region to read news from home We furnished money and com- 
forts to soldiers who were discharged or furloughed to enable 
them to reach their homes. 

We visited the transports as they arrived with sick and wounded 
from the army, helping as we could, distributing our cards and ice 
water, lemonade and stimulants and crackers, beef soup, &c. The 
transports came in at all hours, day or night. 

I cannot call to mind all the hospitals of Alexandria. Such as 
I knoAv I have visited or sent articles to. I name below King 
Street Hospital, Prisoners', Fairfax, two buildings ; Mansion House, 
Baptist Church, Methodist Church, St. Paul's Church, Grace 
■ Church, Duke street, three buildings ; Washington, Old Halowell, 
New Halowell, Soldiers' Rest, Fairfax Seminary, Slough Barracks, 
Sickles Barracks, Contraband Camp. 

With the exception of the last tive mentioned, these hospitals 
were all i]i the town and easily visited. Fairfax Seminary Hos- 
pital was two miles from town. Contraband Camp was five miles 
distant. Soldiers' Eest, Slough Barracks and Sickles' Barracks, 
were on the outskirts of the town and troublesome to visit without 
horse and carriage. 

Acting in accordance with instructions received from you, I 
employed the following persons in addition to those mentioned 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 59 

above : Mrs. Failing and Mrs. Chandler, from Broome county, 
ladies, "vvho knowing of the sufferings of the soldiers, had came to 
Alexandria to assist in relieving those suffering. They visited 
most of the hospitals in Alexandria, and furnished many luxuries 
to the sick and wounded. Drs. Geo. W. Cook, George Lawton 
and Thomas Eadigan, from Syracuse, N. Y., were sent fi'om the 
Washington agency and remained with us about two weeks. They 
made regular visitations to the different hospitals, distributing 
luxuries, books, &c. 

Mj'S. Stauard, from Utica, was very actively engaged, from the 
middle of June to the latter part of July, in distributing luxuries 
and in assisting Miss Quick, an authorized agent of some New 
York city societies, in endeavoring to have attached to the differ- 
ent hospitals extra Mtcliens for the use of matrons and others, to 
cook delicacies for the sick and wounded. 

Hospital visitants came to us daily from "Washington and else- 
where, receiving supplies from us for distribution in the various 
hospitals, and giving us information of the wants of New York 
state troops. 

The records of the amount of good work done, besides the very 
large amount of stores distributed, being at present in Alexandria, 
I connot give more full particulars. 

My connection with the agency ceased on the 31st day of 
August last. 

Hoping that the above report will meet with your approbation, 
I remain, as ever, 

Truly yours, 

W. B. COVENTEY. 
Bee. 21, 1864. 



(No. 6.) 

Calvin G. Beach's Eeport of the Agency at FREDERicKeBUROH. 

WASHiNGTOJf, D. C, May 24, 1864. 
Dear Sir. — In accordance with instructions received from your 
brother, his Excellency Horatio Sej-mour, on Saturday, the 14th 
inst., I reported to you on Monday, the 16th, and was by you in- 
structed to proceed at once to Eredericksburgh, Ya., and do what- 
ever might seem necessary for the care or relief of soldiers from 
the State of New York, and afford such aid or information to par- 



60 REPORT OP THE GENERAL AGENT 

ties seeking knowledge of their friends in the service as I might 
be able to give. 

In my instructions, you authorized me to draw upon you for 
such sums of money as I might require to fulfill the purposes of 
my mission; but owing to the extent of our agreement with the 
Sanitary Commission — that noble charity to which the citizens of 
our State have contributed with a liberality unparalleled — I have 
found little occasion to use money. 

I repaired at once to Fredericksburgh and opened rooms on 
William street, directly opposite those occupied hj the Sanitary 
Commissjion, on the morning of Tuesday, the 17th. 

I found the city one vast hospital; stores, warehouses, public 
buildings, and even churches — ever}' place that could give shelter, 
was used as a receptacle for the wounded. 

The population of Fredericksburgh was but 6,000, and with at 
least that number of wounded — and many declared the number to 
be much greater — suddenly thrust into a town, with which all 
were unfamiliar, it is evident that my first and chiefest labor was 
to systematize the Avork before me, that I might readil}'- give inform- 
ation or care in any case that should be demanded. I accordingly, 
as a preliminary step, prepared a directory containing the name of 
the surgeon in charge of the hospitals of each army corps, and the 
location of his office. I then added, as fully as possible, a list of 
the New York regiments and independent batteries, with General 
Meade, and the corps to which they were assigned. 

The utility of this step was shown in scores of instances where 
inquiries were made by friends in person or by letter, of the nature 
of the injuries, and the condition of the soldiers named, or where 
they might be found. 

I did not visit all the hospitals, for their number prevented it. 
I did, however, visit those in which New York was most repre- 
sente'd, and many wards I visited several times. To speak in detail 
of the suffering I witnessed, and of the heroism with which it was 
borne, could -fill a volume; and to depict them in their proper col- 
ors would furnish employment for an abler pen than mine. Im- 
ajrination the most vivid cannot conceive scenes of sufFerinac more 
intense than those of which my duty made me witness; and the 
annals of heroism can furnish no records of more patient endurance 
than vv'ere to be seen on every hand. 

I conversed with hundreds of soldiers from our State; with 
some whose wounds were of such a nature that promised a speedy 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 61 

recover}'-, and Avith others to whom it would have been Avickedness 
to hold out the shadow of a hope. One of the latter class, a mem- 
ber of the sixth company of the First Ncav York sharpshooters, 
who had suffered two amputations of a leg, spoke calmly of his 
wishes in regard to his body and his effects, and declared that 
though life was beautiful and full of promise for him, he was yet 
ready to die, and felt that his life could not be given in a cause 
more holy than a war for the preservation of the Union. 

In accordance with his request, his body was embalmed and sent 
to his friends, on my becoming personally responsible for the pay- 
ment of the expenses. I might multiply instances Avhich, to me, 
were full of interest, did such come properly within the scope of 
this report. 

Watches and other property belonging to deceased soldiers, 
were in some cases handed me by their comrades, with the names 
of the parties to whom the deceased had desired to have them 
sent, and such charges have been sacredly fulfilled. 

Yesterday morning, finding that the wounded were all to be re- 
moved from Fredericksburgh, and the town abandoned, and that 
I cojnld therefore be of little further use at that point, I joined the 
wagon train, the last to be sent out, for Belle Plain. 

As you wei'e present in person, superintending the removal of 
the wounded, who were brought down by rail to Acquia creek, 
you are better prepared to speak of that than myself. I cannot 
close this imperfect report without acknowledging the assistance 
received from Dr. Wm. McKeunan, of Albion, N. Y., present dur- 
ing the Aveek at Fredericksburg-li as a A'olunteer suro-eon, Avhose 
aid was invaluable. Mr. Brownell, ^f Oneida county, also prof- 
fered his services during the last tAA^o days of our occupation of 
the toAvn, and proved A^ery efficient; while the Sanitary and 
Christian Commissions dispensed their stores with a bountiful 
hand. 

The agents in charge of the Ohio rooms also liberally proffered 
their cooperation, and in the distribution of necessaries made little 
distinction between the soldiers of Ohio and those of our own and 
other States. The inhabitants were also moved with pity at the 
suffering about them, and not only used our men with kindness, 
but so far as my observation extended, responded Avith cheerful 
alacrity to such demands as were made upon their slender re- 
sources. I had occasion, in several instances, to ask the good 
offices of persons resident in the town, and in every instance my 



62 REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

request was granted, as an act of common justice. I of course 
compensated them for the service rendered. 

In conclusion, having present before me in all its dread reality 
the sickening scene from which I have but just emerged, I must 
add a fervent hope that the future may hold no such fearful neces- 
sity for aid to our gallant soldiers as the past ten days have fur- 
nished. Could those who, seated by their quiet firesides, seem 
impatient when the daily journal fails to bring its usual quantum 
of tales of slaughter, who vehemently clamor for more vigor, and 
who seem to laud most highly those commanders whose career is 
most marked with the dark stain of the blood of our sons and 
brothers — could such but have passed with me through the aisles 
of horror which have passaged the hospitals of Fredericksburgh, 
they would be either more or less than human did they not echo 
the prayer that soon the dread cause of war may be lifted from 
our land, and the soil be no more bedewed with the blood of our 
bravest and our best. 

I have the honor to be, &c., 

Your obedient servant, 

C. G. BEACH. 
To John F. Seymour, Esq., 

Special agent S. JST. Y., WasJiington, D. C. 



( No. 7. ) 

Dr. Chamlerlain's Report of Work at Belle Plain and 

Fredericksbugh. 

To John F. Seymour, Esq., New York State Agent 

for the care of Sick and Wounded Soldiers: 

Sir — In accordance with the usage at your office and with your 
requirement, I have the honor to present the following report : 

On the 19th of May last, in company with Dr. J. N. Goff of 
this town, I presented myself at your office, No. 181 Pennsylvania 
avenue, Washington, for instruction as to the most efficient mode 
of serving, professionally or otherwise, the sick and wounded of 
our army. 

We were at once enrolled among your active and efficient corps 
of assistants, and under your direction Avere for several days 
employed with them in looking after the interests and necessities 
of New York men in the hospitals in and about Washington. 
While all is done that is possible by the government, there still 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. , 63 

remains much special work for individuals. We found occasional 
representatives from other states looking up their wounded, but 
everywhere we found New York men and women patiently and 
constantly striving to mitigate the suffering and add to the comfort 
of the brave men of the empire state. But the good works of 
your agents were not confined to the men of their own state alone. 
I heard it more than once remarked that the New York state 
people were more cosmopolitan in their work and feelings than 
those of any other state. 

The work in Washington having been so 'classified and distri- 
buted as to allow of your absence, I was, with a corps of volun- 
teer surgeons and medical agents from your office, detailed to 
accompany you to Belle Plain and Fredericksburgh, to aid in the 
care of wounded at those places. 

Arriving at Belle Plain late at night, we found a long train of 
ambulances just arrived with wounded from the battle-fields of 
the Wilderness. Many of these had lain two days on the field 
before they could be removed, and were now on their way to 
hospitals in Washington, b'ome we found dead, some dying. 
Food and stimulants were given judiciously and generously to all 
who could swallow. The dead were identified when possible, 
and their names, companies, regiments and residences recorded. 
The dying were tenderly cared for, their names and residences 
taken, and their last wishes and messages carefully recorded for 
transmission to their friends. 

But I need not detail to you this work in which you were so 
efficient and so much at home. 

When all the hundreds of wounded had been tenderly and 
rapidly as possible transferred to the hospital steamers, our long- 
night's work was done and we at liberty to secure some needed 
rest. 

As Belle Plain was so soon to be abandoned, Drs. Post and 
Maxon, two of your medical agents who had been on duty here, 
were added to our party, and the next day, leaving only that 
efficient worker, Mrs. Spencer, to represent the New York agency, 
we proceeded to Fredericksburgh ; Dr. Eichardson of our party 
being detailed for duty at Acquia Creek. 

Here we found ample opportunity for work. The large num- 
ber of volunteer surgeons who had first come to this place had 
become tired out, and most of them had gone home, so that your 



64 REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

corps of volunteer surgeons and medical agents found, alas, too 
much need of their services. 

The whole city was more than filled with wounded. Churches, 
hotels, factories, stores, dwellings, every building that could be 
made available was occupied, and large numbers occupied hospital 
tents in the suburbs. The whole atmosphere was tainted by the 
wounds of the eight thousand (8,000) poor fellows crowded 
together here. 

For the most part, too, these were the worst cases out of the 
thirty thousand (30,000) and more who had been brought in since 
the campaign began, those best able having been taken on to 
Washington and elsewhere. 

We were distributed by the medical director among the hos- 
pitals of the various army corps where most needed, and left to 
our work — work not more laborious and important than that per- 
formed by yourself on your return trip to Washington with the 
large train of wounded you accompanied. 

While our professional labor was not of course confined to the 
wounded from our own state, we took every occasion to aid, as 
far as possible, the efforts of your permanent agent at F., Mr. 
Beach, in his work of looking after the comfort and interests of 
New York men. 

The evacuation of the city having been ordered, Dr. Goff, Dr. 
Maxon and myself reported to Dr. Post, who had been placed in 
charge of the hospital transport George Weems, and were by him 
retained as assistants. We took on board about four hundred 
wounded belonging to the Fifth army corps, and were about to 
start when we found the steamer was totally imsupplied with 
food and hospital stores. A small supply of the latter was pro- 
cured from the proper authorities, after some delay, and the 
agents of the sanitary and christian commissions contributed some- 
thing from their stores, now almost entirely exhausted. * 

The boat got under way about 5 o'clock p. M. and steamed 
slowly down the river, which is here very narrow and crooked. 

Dr. Goff and myself were placed in charoje of the main deck 
and cabin, the floors of which were so thickly covered with 
wounded that we could hardly move among them. We were 

fortunate in being aided by Dr. of Troy, N. Y., and by Dr. 

Fanitor of East Avon, N. Y., who took charge of the wounded on 
the upper deck, both volunteer surgeons, who had been on duty 
at F,. and were now returning home. 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 65 

Two or three female nurses — one of them Mrs. Swishelm-^-were 
on board and assisted in distributing to the wounded the little 
food we could supply. This was principally milk punch and beef 
broth, the materials for which, fortunately, we found among our 
few hospital stores. With these we were able to furnish an 
apology for supper to the poor fellows under our care. 

At dark the steamer was anchored, partly because of difficult 
navigation and partly lest guerillas, unable to see our hospital flag 
in the darkness, should fii-e upon us in ignorance of our character. 

About 9 o'clock a very severe gust, with rain and hail, burst 
upon us, drenching and chilling many of the men on the upper 
deck. We dressed as well as we could some of the worst wounds 
where all were bad enough. Many had not been dressed for 
several daj'^s, and were in a condition too loathsome to be described. 
The night wore away very slowly. The men w^ho had been 
detailed as nurses were inefficient, and most of them skulked. 

Without help, without food, without bandages for wounds, 
without medicines, except some morphine, without lights more 
than sufficed to make darkness visible, we labored throusfh the 
long hours, wearied more by the sufferings we could not I'elieve 
than by the many things we tried to do. 

At daylight the boat resumed her course. With the aid of a 
barrel of soft crackers, procured from the captain of the boat, we 
were able to furnish our cold and hungry men a better meal than 
the night before. 

About noon we met the large and well supplied hospital steamer 
State of Maine, and, much to our gratification, were ordered to 
transfer our wounded to her comparatively luxurious accommoda- 
tions. Instead of a scanty supply of damp straw upon the hard 
decks, our poor fellows had now soft mattresses and comfortable 
berths, and were soon supplied with a hearty meal of hot coffee, 
soft bread and meat. 

It was a source of no little satisfaction to us to be able to trans- 
fer alive into other hands every one of the mangled brave men we 
had received at Fredericksbui'gh. During the next night and day 
we were permitted only to be lookers on, and it was sad to see 
several of the most desperately wounded, over whom we had 
fought death at such disadvantage for twenty-four hours, one after 
another laid away, to be taken to the burial place instead of the 
hospital. 

[Senate, No. 83.] 5 



66 REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

The surgeons of the State of Maine were skillful, able and 
willing workers, evidently preferring to work unaided. It was to 
he regretted that their number had not been greater or the work 
less. The worst cases received attention ; but numbers, where 
wounds required dressing, were obliged to wait till they reached 
the hospitals in "Washington. 

Released from professional duty, it was a pleasure to resume 
the special duties of a New York State agent. A large propor- 
tion of the wounded were from our State, and were pleased and 
proud to know that the agents of their own State authorities were 
looking after their comfort and welfare. 

They were mostly sent to the excellent hospital in Armory 
Square, where the skill and kindness of Dr. Bliss, surgeon in 
charge, insured to them the best possible care, and where they 
could daily be visited by agents from your office in Washington. 

Respectfully, 

J. K. CHAMBERLAIN. 

Cazenovia, June 1864. 



(No. 8.) 

Mrs. R. H. Spencer's Report of the New York State Agency 
AT City Point, Ya. 

November 7, 1864. 
■ Mr. John F. Seymour : 

Dear Sir — "When I saw you in Albany last summer, I said to you 
that I would send you a report of my labors from the time I left 
Alexandria to find our wounded after the battle of the "Wilderness. 
My husband being hospital steward in the Medical Purveyor's De- 
partment, I make my home (by the consent of Dr. Brinton, medi- 
cal purveyor of the army of the Potomac), with that department. 

On the 8th day of May, an order came from Surgeon General 
Barnes, Washington, to repair forthwith to Rappahannock station, 
with all needful supplies for the wounded. The cars were loaded, 
and the train started for said station without delay. 

Meantime, with the money furnished by Governor Seymour for 
occasions of need to New York soldiers, I had purchased such 
supplies of food and articles of comfort as I deemed necessary for 
the emergency. I also took with me a good quantity of tobacco, 
furnished me by Thomas Hoyt, 404 Pearl street, New York. 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 67 

Thauks to his bountiful generosity, I liad on hand a large supply. 
On reaching the place of our destination, we found no wounded; 
and after waiting until next morning, we were iuformed tliat the 
rebels had intercepted our ambulances, and turned our wounded 
another way. We were ordered to return to Alexandria. On my 
way back, I distributed tobacco to the soldiers on duty. We ar- 
rived in Alexandria Monday evening; there found further orders 
from Washington, which were to load two steamers with medical 
supplies and stores for Belle Plain. The purveyor and stewards 
labored all night, and at early morning the steamboats left for that 
port. Not knowing if the Surgeon General wished me to go by 
either of the boats loaded with hospital stores, I went to Wash- 
insfton instead to ascertain his feelings in the matter. He seemed 
surprised that I had not gone, and advised me to go with the first 
steamer following. I returned to Alexandria, and at dusk stood 
on wharf No. 4, with my basket and haversack filled with rations, 
waiting for the steamer upon which I was soon established, while 
she made her way towards Belle Plain as fast as her steam and 
wheels could move her. In her cabin I found several delegates of 
the Christian commission, among them a co-worker at Gettysburg — 
Lawyer McCreary — a resident of that place; one whose heart 
and hand was ever open to aid our suflering soldiers. I can never 
speak or write of him without expressing my admiration and re- 
spect for his noble devotion to the cause of patriotism. The 
steamer arrived at Belle Plain daybreak Wednesday morning. We 
could not get on shore for some time after reaching port. The 
sanitary boat, with her stores, delegates, and ladies, lay beside us. 
Slightly wounded soldiers, who had been able to walk from the 
field, were moving slowly towards the boats, with hungry, anxious 
faces, and were being fed from the sanitary boat with crackers and 
other edibles. As soon as I could land, I went from the boat to 
the shore with my rations, thinking I might make a little cofiee or 
tea for some of them, and soon found plenty who were needing 
what I could give them. I met Dr. Babcock, our State medical 
agent, moving from one wounded man to another, dressing their 
wounds and cheering them with kind, encouraging words. 

After feeding my small supply of rations, I passed to another 
portion of the field, where I found ten or eleven theological stu- 
dents, delegates of the sanitary commission, who were employed 
making coflfee in camp-kettles; the kettles hung ujdou a pole over 
the fire, each end of the pole resting on crotched sticks that had 



68 EEPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

been driven in the ground as standards for the pole. I offered my 
services to assist in making coffee or tea; to stir, dip, or serve in 
any way, so that we might expedite the feeding of our wounded 
and hungry men. My assistance was thankfully received, and all 
parties worked with a will; some cut wood, others brought water, 
one would keep the fire, while another would go with pail and cup 
to distribute what had been prepared. 

Thus all worked until dark and after, into the nio-ht. I think 
there were fed on that first day six thousand men, including those 
brought in wagons and ambulances with their drivers and attend- 
ants. In the afternoon it rained without ceasing, pouring in tor- 
rents over all. The wounded lay upon the ground surrounding us 
by thousands; some under bushes for shelter, others without shel- 
ter except blankets, more without covering of any kind. It was 
impossible to make shelter in so short a time; we were thankful 
that we could feed them. How often, in passing from one to the 
other, I've heard a grateful "God bless you!" And often as I 
passed a soldier laying in the rain and mud, with his arm or leg 
off, a wound in his neck, lungs, or body, he would say, in answer 
to my inquiry if he'd had tea or coffee : " Yes, I've done well, 
thank you; but you, lady, you'll get your death in this rain. How 
can you go through this mud to wait on us ?" Their cheerfulness 
was to me most surprising. I stood in the mud that day over the 
top of my boots, while preparing food for the wounded. The 
sanitary had but one tent erected; that one sheltered their stores 
from the wet. At night, eleven o'clock, it occurred to me that I 
had no place to sleep. One of the men who had been assisting us 
in making fires said he would go and ask a driver to give me a 
place in his wagon. One of the drivers readily assented, and left 
his wagon for my use — finding room for himself with a brother 
teamster. I got into the wagon, wrapped my shawl about me, 
sat myself on the bottom of the vehicle, placed the mule saddle 
at my back, and for the first time since morning settled myself 
down for rest. I could not sleep; my clothes were thoroughly 
saturated with mud and rain. My bones were aching with wet 
and fatigue, yet I did not feel discouraged. How could I ? When 
I thouo-ht of the thousands lying crippled, maimed, dying all 
around me, my every breath seemed a prayer for my suflering 
countrymen. At dawn the next morning, I felt rested and ready 
for another day's work. In going from the wagon to our place 
of cooking, I experienced the disagreeable effect of walking through 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 69 

Virginia mud. The rain upon the clay soil makes a mortar equal 
to that made at home by our brick aud stone masons. I often 
think of our mortar beds. lu the morning, I found many of our 
wounded lying in those beds of mud mortar. Most were fortu- 
nately laid from the ambulances upon the hill-side, and fared much 
better. The wounded continued to come, and were being cared 
for. Miss Dix, with her lady nurses, came, and after a little time 
passed on to Fredericksburgh; one or two ladies remained for a 
day or two, but all finally went farther. The government kitchen 
issued supplies to thousands; furnished the sanitary, when short, 
with meat, bread, sugar, coffee, &c. 

The Christian commission labored faithfully and effectually. 
In a few days we were made comfortable, and still worked on. 
Dr. Steiner, of the sanitary commission, and the Rev. Mr. Knapp, 
of the same, requested me to take charge of the cooking. I did 
so, feeling that my proper place was with them, as New York had 
turned all her contributions into that commission. I, therefore 
would be working for my New York men to better advantage than 
in any other position. You, sir, found me there, and approved of 
my course, and saw for the time you remained with us how faith- 
fully all labored. Father Gilroy, of Indiana, came to our relief 
often with government supplies. Early in the morning and late 
at night I've met him administering to wounded and dying men; 
many a blessing has gone upward for him. We remained over 
two weeks at Belle Plain. I had intended to return to Alexandria 
in three or four days at farthest, and had therefore taken with me 
no change of clothing. I found so much suffering and need of 
my services that I remained, although my shoes were worn out, 
and I felt the need of clothes. Nevertheless, we were working in 
this exigency for the Union. 

On the 25th of May we left Belle Plain for Port Royal; reached 
there awhile before dark; went on shore; the wounded were arriv- 
ing in large numbers. We found an old building with substantial 
fire-places, but no wood of which to build fires to prejoare the food 
for them. We were in a strait; the men must be fed at all haz- 
ards. Therefore we made the sides of the building our agents of 
special relief for the present occasion of need. The fires were 
made, and we worked with our might making and distributing 
coffee until nearly daylight. I went to the boat for rest the bal- 
ance of the night. Early next morning went on shore again, and 
commenced our labors for another day. Colonel Cuyler, luspeC' 



70 REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGES'! 

tor General of the Army, had a stove brought and placed insicTe 
the building and five cauldrons outside, and twenty-eight men were 
sent by him to assist in the work. Two cauldrons were filled for 
coffee, one for soup, and two for meat. These were kept in con- 
stant action as well as the kettles and stove inside the buildino-. 
With all those facilities, and with the sanitary and government 
supplies we barely fed all that came. 

We remained at Port Royal until the morning of the 29th. 
Just before leaving for White House (which was to be our next' 
base of operations), I met Mr. Fay, of the sanitary commission, 
who came from Fredericksburgh the day before, where he'd been 
since our first landing at Belle Plain. He asked me if I was aware 
that the sanitary commission did not employ lady agents; and as 
their greatest need was now past, he should advise me to join some 
hospital as nurse. I thanked Mr. Fay kindly, and said I could not 
join hospital as nurse, being at the present time State agent for 
New York. As the sanitary did not require my services farther, I 
would reach White House landing by the medical purveyor boat, 
which had arrived the day before with medical supplies; on which 
were medical purveyor and the hospital stewards— my husband 
being one of the number. I met Colonel Cuyler, stated to him 
what had been said to me hj Mr. Fay, the present captain of the 
water base of the sanitary commission. 

" Very well," said Colonel Cuyler, " I will place you as super- 
intendent over our cooking on the government barge as soon as we 
reach White House. You can oversee that, and attend to the 
wants of New York men at the same time." 

I assented to the arrangement, and upon arriving at White 
House landing May 30th, reported to Dr. Dalton, chief medical 
officer, stating Colonel Cuyler's intentions, and was ordered to 
report myself and Miss Willits (a young lady volunteer nurse from 
Jersey City), for duty to Dr. Fox, the surgeon in charge of the 
barge. From the barge we fed the first wounded that came to 
White House from the field. After a day or two our stoves and 
cauldrons were brought on shore, and we occupied the remains of 
an old house. Here we fed our thousands again. We called it 
the Government kitchen; and from it regiments of New York men 
were supplied with nourishment — to which some of our volunteer 
lady nurses from New York city can certify. Mrs. Lyon, of Wil- 
liamsburgh, L. I., and Mrs. Jenkins, of New York city, volunteered 
and faithfully worked until both returned home sick with the scenes 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. ^ 71 

they had witnessed. Their superhuman exertions and overtaxed 
strength, they can inform all who may inquire of the labors of the 
New York State agent at White House. Senator Bell, of New 
York State, visited and remained with us a short time; and while 
there, helped us distribute coffee, meat, bread, and tea to the Tenth 
regiment of New York State heavy artillery. They Were over 
fifteen hundred strong, but were worn and weary with a long 
march without rations of any kind. We fed them all, and they 
can testify to the benefit of having an agent on hand to give them 
help in their need. 

We left White House and came to City Point June 18th. Here 
again we found plenty to do. The wounded were still coming ; 
the ground was again covered with them,, and our labors were no 
lighter. Our hospital was finally established a mile and a half 
from the landing at City Point. Our medical purveying boat 
moved around upon the Appomattox river, and the hospital wharf 
was built there as more convenient for the sick and wounded 
when needing to be removed.. The government kitchen was kept 
in action, and I remained with it until the hospital kitchens were 
in good order, and the hospitals ready to receive their patients as 
they were sent from the field hospitals or the battle-field ; then it 
was broken up, and I was relieved from doing double duty. From 
that time my labors were mostly distributing to our needy soldiers 
at the front, field hospitals and in rifle-pits. In the general hos- 
pital I am not needed as much (though I visit them now and then 
and distribute a portion of the supplies to them), because they 
have their surgeons, ladies and ward masters, for the divisions,, 
sections and wards ; while those at the front have to struworle on 
alone, having only their regimental surgeons, and some of those,. 
not being efiicient, or if so, extremely selfish and often intempe- 
rate. I am sorry to say many of our soldiers become the victims, 
of the last mentioned evil in one way or the orther. 

I have found many friends to assist me in my arduous duties.. 
Dr. Brinton, the medical purveyor, has kindly given me for the 
soldiers of such things as do not belong to government, but were- 
turned in as hospital stores ; has given me a home on the boat,, 
when otherwise I should have been unpleasantly situated. One off 
the reasons for his doing so was, my husband being one of his 
stewards ; another, he saw that I did not grudge to any State 
soldier that I found in need. He is thoroughly attached to. the- 



72 REPORT OP THE GENERAL AGENT 

government ; thinks that it should provide all the luxuries instead 
of being supplied by sanitary or christian commissions. 

Gen. Grant has kindly given me a pass to visit the front with 
supplies, when other ladies are not permitted to go. Gen. Mead 
and Provost-Marshal Patrick have shown me great favor. I have 
been furnished transportation when in need of it. I think I 
have great need to be thankful to an over-ruling Providence for 
aiding and protecting me in this great work. I never felt more 
sensibly my dependence on a higher power than when, in the 
explosion of our ammunition boat at City Point, I sat on my horse, 
about sixty-five feet from the boat, when it exploded : pieces of 
shell, cannon balls, human flesh and sticks of timber, over and 
about me — no escape in any direction. I was hit, but not seriously 
hurt. I felt in that moment of destruction that no power but the 
Almighty could save. I still feel that God in his great mercy 
protected me in that terrible time. 

I could continue to write, but my letter is already too long. 

The money I have received from you at different times, to use 
for the soldier, has been faithfully expended and distributed 
according to my best judgment, of which I have sent you the 
vouchers. Still with all you send and have sent, I have not been 
able to reach every J^ew York regiment. New York has an army 
of her own, and it needs immense supplies to give to all a mite. 
With much respect truly yours, 

Mrs. E. H. SPENCER. 



( No. 9. ) 

To John F. Seymour, Esq., General Agent, So. : 

gir — With the opening of the campaign of 1864, we met, as we 
had often done before, in ministries to the first crowds of wounded 
coming in from the battle-field. This was at Belle Plain. 

I was then in the employment of the United States Sanitary 
Commission, and you were presiding over and working with the 
volunteer and other agents from our State, in those never to be 
forgotten labors. 

You are well aware by what steps the joint labors and counsels 
in the care of our suffering soldiers and in their transportation, as 
the base was changed from Belle Plain and Fredericksburgh to 
White House, and from White House to City Point, led to my 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. , 73 

appointment as chief field agent for New York witli the armies 
operating against Richmond. 

On the 18tli of July last, I resigned, at your request, the 
employ of the U. S. Sanitary Commission and accepted the above 
appointment. 

The duties assigned me were mainly a continuation of those in 
which I had all along been engaged : a general oversight of the 
condition and wants of the soldiers of the State ; a vigilant 
inspection of the various means provided for their relief, and of 
their access to the stores of the U. S. Sanitary Commission and 
Christian Commission, and to those specially sent by your orders 
for their use ; regular conference Avith the army authorities to 
whom I habitually reported for direction and counsel, and advi- 
sory reports to yourself and to the agency at Washington as to 
whatever in my view might promote the Avelfare and comfort of 
New York soldiers. 

They were the same in substance which, under various relations, 
had occupied me during the two previous years. 

My first care was to see that the channels of access to the gene- 
rous supplies furnished by the patriotic bounty of citizens of the 
State to the commissions above named, were freely opened to the 
soldiers of New York, and this upon the principle that these insti- 
tutions and their varied and ample appliances were both the 
legitimate and the most economical and efficient instruments for 
carrying the bounty of our citizens to the soldiers in hospitals 
and in the front ; and that costly State agencies in the field were 
both needless and unwise. My aim and policy was to secure the 
ends of effectual relief to the soldier, with as little additional 
machinery and cost as possible to the State. 

The arrangements of the sanitary commission in its stationary 
depots at the various large hospitals in the field, its special diet 
kitchens, and its abundant transportation in constant motion to all 
parts of the army, were so ample and complete, that every day's 
observation and experience contributed to confirm my views of 
their adequacy, and of the comparative costliness and inefficiency 
of State establishments attempting to operate on the same lines. 
In these views I was fully sustained by the judgment of the 
authorities of the army, and I have all along estimated the value 
of my services both to the soldier and the State by the degree of 
success with which I was enabled to render existing general pro- 



74 REPORT OP THE GENERAL AGENT 

visions effectual to the relief of the New York soldiers' wants, and 
other and independent State macliinery unnecessary. 

It is for you and others in tlie field and in positions enabling 
them to judge correctly, to determine how far I was useful and 
successful in these aims. 

lu entire consistency with these general yiews, it gave me 
pleasure to second and promote the agency of Mrs. R. H. Spencer, 
whose peculiar position and relations, from the opening of the 
campaign, and especially after the establishment of the base of 
supply at City Point, enabled her to be of eminent service to the 
soldiers of the State. Her chief efi"orts were directed to giving 
efficiency to the appliances of the sanitary and christian commis- 
sions, and making their stores available to the New York soldier; 
and these great agencies and relief accepted willingly her inter- 
mediate services. But she possessed facilities besides for convey- 
ing to our men special supplies and comfoi-ts, without other 
expense than that of their cost in New York or Washington, and 
they were in the habit of resorting to her quarters in seai-ch of 
these. The stores selected and forwarded by you, .and such as 
were added by the private bouuty of local associations or gene- 
rous private citizens, were, 1 have every reason to iDelieve, distri- 
buted to good purpose, and it was part of my duty to verify 
these facts, and to certify you of them. 

In- the month of September there were from five to 10,000 
patients in the field hospitals comiected with the armies before 
Richmond. Very large numbers of these were men recruited in 
the early spring and who had beeii pushed forward into the field 
while the armies were in motion for the campaign. A large pro- 
portion were consequently unpaid for four, six and eight months, 
for there was no mustering for pay in the field hospitals, and they 
were separated from their regimental organizations. 

Upon representation of these facts to the Paymaster General, 
he authorized me to procure accui^xte lists of the men and to re- 
port them to him. With the hearty cooperation of the hospital 
authorities and the kind cooperation of the clerks, this was quickly 
and accurately done at City Point, and upon representation of the 
facts through Mrs. Spencer to General Butler, the like process was 
gone through with in the hospitals of the army of the James. In 
the sequel, paymasters were sent down to pay all sets of six to 
ten of the same regiment in these hospitals ; and authority was 
giv'en me to collect the pay of isolated men, upon their brief or- 



rOR SICK AKD WOUNDED S0LDIEE3. 75 

der, -wherever their accounts could be cleared up upon the regi- 
mental rolls. Under this authority, I had the great satisfaction of 
collecting and paying to the men, or transmitting by express 
through the sanitary commission at Washington to their families, 
in the months of October and November, not less than $15,000. 

The facilities afforded me in the pay department for this ser- 
vice ; the courteous assistance of the paymasters without excep- 
tion, and the grateful acknowledgments of the men, will be among 
the most cherished memories of my services in the field ; and I 
may be permitted to record here my acknowledgments, (after more 
than three years going in and out in all parts of the army and in 
the bureaus of the departments,) of the unvarying kindness and 
readiness to promote my service for the soldier, by which I have 
everywhere been cheered and which I can never forget. 

In my intercourse with the soldiers in the front and in hospital, 
I found very many isolated cases of men entitled to State bounty, 
but from circumstances which they could not control, unpaid, and 
ignorant of the methods of procedure for obtaining it ; and on 
my i-eturn from City Point on Nov. 10, upon finding the payment 
of these men suspended through the arrest and confinement of the 
officer entrusted with the duty, I imdertook, at the written request 
of Col. Van Buren, the collection of the evidence of this class of 
claims, (at the office at Washington) and their liquidation. It soon 
became a very engrossing part of my duties. From Nov. 10, to 
the close of the year, my time was chiefly occupied at Washing- 
ton. I made a journey through the Shenandoah valley to the 
front of our lines in December, in company with and by the invi- 
tation of a body of paymasters under ample escort, and was ena- 
bled to bear witness to and to report to you the estimate which I 
found made there of the valuable services of your medical agent, 
Dr. West, in connection with the hospitals ; and also to the effi- 
cient service of the sanitary commission during the trials of this 
severe and bloody campaign. On the 23d December, under simi- 
lar circumstances, I visited City Point and closed up the aifairs of 
my agency there ; returning to Washington, in compliance with 
your instructions ; reported in person at Albany'-, closing the year 
with this report of my agency. After passing moje than three 
years (with only the interval of two weeks in each year passed in 
the society of my family) in occupation directly connected with 
the welfare of our soldiers, and among them, I express onlv the 
common sentiment of my fellow- workers, when I say that the ser- 



76 REPORT OP THE GENERAL AGENT 

vice has every month taken stronger hold upon my sympathies 
and drawn me to itself with more powerful attractions. 
All which is respectfully submitted. 

J. V. VAN INGEN, 

N.Y. S. Field Agent. 
Albany, Dec. 31, 1804. 



( No. 10. ) 

Valley of the Shenandoah. 
John F. Seymour, General Jigentfor special relief of 

Sick and Wounded New York Soldiers. 

Sir — I have the honor to report that immediately after receiving 
your communication requesting me to proceed to the army operat- 
ing in the valley of the Shenandoah, for the purpose of rendering 
professional aid to the sick and wounded soldiers from our State, 
and to obtain intelligence respecting the same, I took the earliest 
train and made all haste to that field. 

On my arrival at Harper's Ferry I found it impossible to pro- 
ceed at once to the front, but soon learning that there were several 
hospitals located here, I immediately commenced a tour of inspec- 
tion to ascertain the condition of the New York soldiers lying in 
them. 

In these hospitals I found soldiers representing thirty-eight New 
Yoak regiments. The wounded here were the slighter cases just re- 
ceived from the battle of Winchester. I found but few cases suffering 
from severe diseases. Every attention was shown me by the 
surgeon in charge of these hospitals, and I am pleased to say that 
I failed to find a single case of complaint. After two days' delay 
at this point I found means to get to Winchester, where I arrived 
on the 7th of October. 

At tliis place I found five general hospitals, viz. : the Sheridan, 
the 6th Army Corps, the 8th Army Corps, the 19th Army Corps, 
and the Cavalry Corps hospitals. The Sheridan is a field hospital, 
and is located one mile from town. It has accommodations for 
1,400 patients. The Army Corps hospitals are located in town, 
each of which is made up of smaller hospitals designated as wards. 

From necessity the churches and the larger buildings of the 
town were convei'ted into hospitals. I at once commenced visiting 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 77 

these and found large numbers of the sick and wounded soldiers 
of New York. I made it my duty to a*3ertain their condition, to 
give them information concerning their wounds or diseases, hear- 
ing their complaints, removing the cause of their grievances when 
it was possible, and supplying such articles of comfort as their 
cases required. My time was thus occupied imtil the 19th of 
October, when, unexpectedly to all here, the battle of Cedar creek 
occurred. On the afternoon of this day the wounded in great 
numbers were brought into town. Soon our hospitals were filled 
and new ones organized. The aspect of affairs induced me to offer 
my services to the medical director, which were promptly and 
cordially accepted, and I was placed in charge of a hospital for 
wounded officers. Here I continued for nearly two weeks, when 
being enabled to obtain my release, I returned to my original duty. 
During this time I rendered more professional assistance to others 
than those under my immediate care. 

Many persons from our State came on here for the purpose of 
visiting their sick and wounded friends or relatives, and to recover 
the remains of those who had fallen in the service of their country. 
Those that I met with I gave every assistance that laid in my 
power to aid them in accomplishing their object. I embalmed 
many bodies when the friends of the deceased had not the means 
of defraying the necessary expenses. This work was not entirely 
confined to the bodies of New York soldiers. I embalmed two 
from Iowa, one from Ohio, two from Pennsylvania, one from Ves- 
mont, two from Maine, and four from Massachusetts. I was 
enabled to do this work gratuitously, as the medical department 
furnished the materials. 

I have received a number of letters of inquiry concerning sick 
and wounded soldiers in hospital. These were all answered, and 
the information given when it was possible for me to obtain it. 

It affords me much pleasure to acknowledge my obligations to 
the medical director of the hospitals in Winchester, Dr. F. V. 
Hayden, and the surgeons in charge, for affording me every facility 
in prosecuting my labors in behalf of our sick and wounded soldiers. 
The rigid necessity of conforming to the general rules by which the 
quartermaster and the commissary departments of the government are 
controlled, rendered it impracticable at all times to meet unforeseen 
exigencies. The hand of voluntary and less restricted relief is then 
stretched out with profit and success. Here it is but justice to 



*tS REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

state that the sanitary commission proves the necessity of its exist- 
ence and its usefulness. * 

Only those who have served in the field can properly appreciate 
the vast amount of good done- by this humane institution. To it 
the medical department is under the deepest obligation; Fre- 
quently have I heard surgeons say, " Avhat should we do without 
the sanitary commission ?" Much of the success which has crowned 
their labors has been owing to its benefactions and its aid. My 
extensive experience in the field demands this just testimonial to 
its value and efiiciency. 

The renaoval of the Sixth and Eighth army corps, and the 
absence of engagements, and also the reduced state of the hospi- 
tals rendering my stay no longer necessary, I shall close my labors 
here and proceed to Philadelphia, where you ordered me to i-eport, 
and await such instructions as you may judge the interests of the 
agency may demand. 

Very respectfiilly, 

J. E. WEST, M. D. 

Winchester, Va., Dec. 20th, 1864. 



(No. 11.) 

De. Theodore Dimon's Report of the New York State 

Agency. 

Norfolk, March 10th, 1864. 

John" F. Seymoub, General Agent State of New York: 

Sir — I present the following i-eport as an abstract of my services 
as State Agent in the Department of Eastern Virginia for the 
months of January and February, 1864: 

The winter months in this department are the most healthy of 
the year, and consequently my ordinary duties have been light. 
Nevertheless the usual applications to me, for assistance and relief 
in the following particulars, have been made by our soldiers and 
attended to by me to the best of my ability, viz. : 

For advice and assistance in presenting and pressing claims for 
pay withheld on account of informalities or accidental occurences. 

For furloughs in cases of sickness, or of family distress, or after 
long seiwice. 

For discharges on account of disability or of false representa- 
tions on enlistment. 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 79 

For obtaiuiug detached and pay certificates to enable them to 
receive pay when in general hospital or on detached service. 

For clothing, blankets, bed-ticks, food, &c., for the sick soldier, 
or one who had lost articles in the service and could not afford to 
get more out of his pay. 

For correspondence wdth the relatives of soldiers about their 
health and condition, &c. 

For aidinof furloughed and dischar2:ed soldiers in securing their 
rights of transportation to their homes. 

For procuring the transfer of sick soldiers from general hospi- 
tals in this department to those in our own State, where the 
climate was better adapted to their recovery, &c., &c. 

In the performance of these duties it gives me pleasure to state 
that I have maintained friendly relations with the medical and 
military authorities of the United States, and have always found 
them ready to attend to my representations and requests in all 
proper cases. 

Soon after the 1st of January, 1864, you assigned me the addi- 
tional duty of facilitating the correspondence of relatives and 
friends with our soldiers' prisoners of war to the rebel authorities. 
This has given me a very large and absorbing amount of fresh 
duty. This correspondence has not been confined to people of our 
own State, but has included almost every loyal State. My rule 
has been to render the same service to every one, no matter from 
what State the letters or requests came. This correspondence has 
consisted of flag of truce letters ; those conforming to the rules, 
and those not ; those containing remittances and those not ; those 
accompanied by the necessar}^ United States and confederate post- 
age and those not ; those for prisoners of war and those for friends . 
living in the South. 

Also letters of inquiry, viz. : Is such a soldier still living ? In 
what prison is he confined ? Is he sick ? What can I send him 
and how can I send it ? &c., &c. The greater part of these letters 
state that repeated "flag of truce" letters have been sent and 
nothing heard from them. 

In regard to flag of truce letters, where they do not conform to 
the rules, they are either sent to the dead letter office or destroyed 
when they reach the respective inspectors. They are so numerous 
that if a reply was sent to each writer the respective flag of truce 
letter inspectors would not get through the examinations in time 



80 REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

to be of any great service to those whose letters are right, 
repeat here these rules : 

1st. To be written on one side of a half sheet only. 

2cl. Residence of wi'iterin full, giving town and State at the top. 

3d. Full address of the person written to, viz : full name, rank, 
regiment and company. 

4th. Letters confined to domestic and personal matters. 

5th. Name of writer signed in full at the bottom. 

6th. Three cent United States postage stamp inclosed for post- 
age from Fort Monroe to City Point. Five cents also in currency 
for Confederate postage to Richmond, and ten cents for all places 
beynond Richmond. 

Simple though these rules seem, yet many letters do not accord 
with any one of them. I have remedied these defects whenever I 
could — iu some instances writing letters myself stating that I was 
a neighbor rendering this service, lest the solder might think that 
the letter was not for him from not recognizino; the handwriting. 
In many other instances I have been obliged to send letters back 
accompanied by minute explanations of the rules. In all postage 
cases where that was the only defect I have always furnished it. 

In regard to letters of inquiry; I have replied to them all, 
giving all the information I could, and directing also application 
to be made to Major General E. A. Hitchcock, Bureau of Prisoners 
of War, Wiishington, D. C, for further information, as the rolls of 
our prisoners held by the rebel authorities are all sent to him 
whenever obtained; and giving also such other advice as under 
the circumstances seemed to me likely to be serviceable. 

In regard to sending boxes of supplies also, I have had many 
, inquiries. I repeat here what I have before written you, and the 
information I have sent to every correspondent on this point. 

Boxes of moderate size, marked with the name, rank, regiment 
and company of the soldier, can be sent to Fort Monroe, and they 
will be forwarded if containing clothing, food, and books for read- 
ing only. These boxes and money in letters can be sent to prison- 
ers of war only. Private persons are not allowed to receive either. 

I commenced this part of my duties Avith an endeavor to keep a 
detailed re*cord of all this correspondence, but it soon became so 
extensive that this was impossible, and in some cases it would 
have been a violation of confidence. I have received many letters 
of thanks for my attention to these letters, from wives who had 
written again and again to their husbands in vain, not knowing till 



" FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 81 

now wh}^ their letters had not been receiA^ed. Fathers, brothers, 
mothers and sisters have opened their anxious hearts to me in this 
correspondence, from all parts of the country, and I hope not alto- 
gether in vain. Tlie shrinking delicacy of Avoman's affection has, 
as it always does in times of suffering, found itself courage, in this 
distress also, to send consolation and seek aid for its loved ones. 
The restrained affection, anxiety, distress and agony of these let- 
ters impress one with a remarkable picture of some of the fea- 
tures of this war. One is too striking to be passed unnoticed. 
There has not been expressed a single complaint that any one of 
all these prisoners enlisted, but, on the contrarj'', expressions of 
patience, resignation and courage that make me feel as if we in 
this generation (notwithstanding all the shoddy and all the money- 
making of those politicians who onl}^ see speculation and con- 
sideration in this horrible war), were not altogether unworthy of 
the immense blessings those truly great men of the revolution 
obtained for us, and which we must ti'ansmit at any and every cost 
to our descendants, or remain an instance that enjoyment of the 
best government and the richest favors Divine Providence ever 
bestowed on any people has deteriorated our blood and manhood 
till we are unworthy of their possession, by being recreant to their 
maintenance. 

I recall again to your attention my suggestions, made in January, 
about obtaininor from the Bureau of Prisoners of War, at Wash- 
ington, the roll of those prisoners from our State, and having it 
published with monthly corrections. 

You cannot conceive the anxiety and suspense of the friends at 
home, as evinced by their letters to me, as to whether the "miss- 
ing" are dead or prisoners — as to whether a prisoner " still lives." 
This roll would relieve many trembling hearts, and so far be of 
great service. Nobody can estimate how much distress has been 
relieved by that noble and unexampled institution, the Sanitary 
Commission, in the mere information it has officially given to 
friends and relatives, in regard to our sick and wounded in our 
own hospitals. I have seen a strong man's hair grow white, and 
his face look like the dust of which we were made, while huntinsf 
the field hospitals, after Antietam, for his son, not knowing if he 
was dead or alive. I need not recall to you what you saw at Get- 
tysburg. Cannot, then, something be done to relieve this awful 
suspense about our prisoners at Richmond and elsewhere ? 

It is true that flag of truce correspondence furnishes a very great 

[Senate, No. 83.J 6 



82 REPORT OP THE GENERAL AGENT 

amelioration of this distress. But this correspondence is slow and 
nncertaiu, from the very nature of things. It is not known where 
any particular prisoner is confined, and a letter may thus be 
wi'ongly directed, and consequently not received. Lack of the 
means of writing or paying postage, on the part of the prisoner ; 
mistakes in the names of prisoners of war, so that rightly direct- 
ed letters do not go to wrongly named prisoners on the rolls, &c., 
&c., including also the possible fact of indifference on the part of 
those in charge of these details as to whether any particular yan- 
kee or rebel gets his letter or has it sent. 

It seems to me that a simple plan could be devised, attended 
only with such expense as is not only reasonable, but as warrant- 
able as any incurred in this war, to very greatly relieve our sol- 
diers and their relatives in this particular. 

If an arrangement was made by which, to an of&cer at each side, 
stationed at Washington and Eichmond respectively, bi-monthly 
or monthly, even, reports should be made of every prisoner of 
war held by either party, giving the changes from previous report, 
made by death, escape, exchange or fresh capture, and stating 
also the place of confinement. Such rolls could be exchanged. 
Also, let all letters making inquiries, addressed to such officers 
by any body from the opposite -part}^, be forwarded, and neither 
postage deficiencies or any other informality stop them, and let 
such letters be officially answered and otherwise attended to. 
Such an officer would require six or a dozen clerks to attend 
to the business, but how small an expense would this be in 
comparison with the relief it would afford. I suggest this, not 
because in this war the whole people of all the states have 
not shown an unexampled evidence of conducting it with less 
of inhumanity than ever yet characterized any war, and that too 
where it was a civil war, which has animosities and contingencies 
calculated to peculiarly embitter it, but because I am not only 
proud of this, but hopeful also that as we are thus showing our- 
selves of one race, we may also recover the practical belief that 
we have a common destiny, and with this re-establish a common 
ood will and fr-iendship. 

I mu,st apologize for introducing into my report anything be- 
yond the details of my official duties, as State agent here. But 
the subject matter of these duties has rendered it next to impossi- 
ble to avoid this, and this must be my excuse. 

THEODORE DIMON, Agent State of JYew Yor/c. 



FOE SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 83 

P. S. — I am happy to say that there appears to be at present 
some more encouraging evidences of the re-opening of an exchange 
of prisoners. 

I have used the arrangement you made with the sanitary com- 
mission to supply our soldiers, with a very good and pleasairt 
.effect. THEODOEE DIMON. 

Norfolk, Va., May 2Wi, 1864, 
Mr. JoiiN F. Seymoue, 

General Agent State of JYew York : 
Sir — Since active operations of the army commenced in this 
military deparment, May 6th, 1864, I have been twice to the 
front, above Bermuda Hundi-ed, between the James and Appo- 
mattox rivers, spending several days visiting oiu" regiments and 
the field hospitals. The plans for the care of our wounded had 
been matured by Medical Director McCormick, U. S. A., before 
the movements, and have been admirably carried out. I have 
never seen the wounded half so well provided for. A separate 
dock for the medical department was made on the James, at the 
Hundreds and on the Appomattox, five miles above, at Rocky 
Point ; the former has been mainly used for the 10th corps wound- 
ed, and the latter for the 18th. A large supply of every surgical 
appliance and hospital store was deposited there, and arrange- 
ments made for increasing these at a moment. From these points 
supplies are forwarded to the field as needed, and to these points 
the wounded are brought in ambulances and on stretchers, from 
the field hospitals, as soon as primary operations and dressings 
have been completed on the field. At these points there are seve- 
"ral large, airy, clean steamers, expressly fitted up with single cots, 
with space around each one, and provided with every needed sur- 
gical and hospital appliance, and a sufficient supply of medical 
officers and attendants ; also, with extensive cooking arrangements. 
These steamers receive the wounded from the field hospitals, when 
every one gets a fresh dressing, washing, clean shirt, &c., and a 
cot, with mattrass, pillows, &c., &c., clean sheets and pillow cases, 
and a plenty of food and attention. On these steamers they are 
transported by water to Hampton and Chesapeake General Hospi- 
t'gls, at Fort Monroe. Messages are constantly exchanged between 
the field hospitals and the steamer landings, so that no poor fel- 
lows lie in the hot sun or rain, or at night at the landings, waiting 
the arrival of steamers. For those slightly wounded, who make 



84 BEPORT OF THE GENEEAL AGENT 

theii' way on foot to the landings, comfortable tents are pitched, 
in case of delay on account of their coming down unexpectedly. 
On arriving at Fort Monroe, the wounded are taken charge of by 
Acting Medical Director Dr. Ely McClellan, U. S. A., who is one 
of the most thoroughly efficient medical officers I ever saw. He 
has charge of all the medical department at the fort. Dr. McCor- 
mick being in the field. 

These medical officers have so fallj brought to bear all the re- 
sources of the medical department of the fort, that there is only 
one opening for our assistance, and that is only temporary, though 
very useful, when thei"e is a large number of wounds suddenly 
occurring ; then, under the system established, there is a chance 
for us to take our place in it to render temporary aid so long as it 
is needed. Every facility is afforded to me and the christian com- 
mission delegates to render personal aid and Idndly offices, and 
to furnish those grateful fresh fruits, &c., that it is in our power 
to afford. Our old friend, Mr. Cross, of the christian commission, 
is here with a corps of delegates, as efficient and indefatigable as 
ever. 

The Norfolk market is full of fresh vegetables and strawberries, 
&c. Here the hospital fund would be exhausted on milk, eggs, 
chickens, butter, &c., before it could reach fresh fruits and vege- 
tables. Seeing the need and occasion, I led off in the purchase of 
these things, though our means are limited and conliiaed to our 
own State; but the Christian commission, though sadly short of 
funds, promptly joined me in this, as they generally lead in all 
good works for the soldiers. And we have managed together to 
afford all soldiers valua1>le relief in these respects. The propor- 
tion of the New York wounded here is about one-sixth of the whole 
number. The whole number of New York wounded received at 
all the general hospitals here l^eing between 600 and 700, the total 
from all States being about 4,000. 

General Butler left his entrenchments again yesterday morning 
for another advance, and I suppose there must be at once a large 
num1;)er of fresh casualties. I find my true place is at the general 
hospitals here. I leave Norfolk at 7 A. M. daily with strawl^erries, 
&c., and spend the day at Hampton and Chesapeake, returning at 
6 P. M. So far as one man can do anj^thing among so many, I as- 
sure you that the gratification and reward is great. I have a long 
array of bright and grateful eyes daily before me, as I go through 
the wards. I have a most pleasant and cordial understanding with 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 85 

the surgeons in charge, and all my suggestions, professional and 
personal, are received with respect, and not unfrequently acted 
upon. I copy from my note-book a remark or two in this respect : 

" So many lives depend in surviving wounds and amputations 
and surgical operations wholly and solely upon the general condi- 
tion of the patient's system, and this condition is improved so 
eminently by cleanliness, attention, kindness, and good air and 
acceptable and nourishing food, that it may be said all-important, 
mere surgery, though ever so sldllfully rendered, will fail without 
these concomitants. In the army, where men in the field live on 
pork and hard bread, and drink bad water, and sleep or stand guard 
and picket duty about swamps and in raalarial districts, the wounded 
come to the hospitals in a bad state of general health, and here it 
is pre-eminently necessary to support the system by all those na- 
tural means which, where rightly viewed and used, are our best 
medicines. Fresh fruits and vegetables are as needful to these pa- 
tients as they are to a case of scurvy; and I am greatly gratified and 
encouraged to find that Drs. McClellan and Wliite, in chief charge, 
recognize, as all experienced army surgeons do, the necessity and 
importance of these views." 

The surgery here is to save, and not to destroy; and it is no 
longer allowed a surgeon to boast of the number of liis operations, 
but only of the number of limbs and lives he has saved. I give 
you a fair instance. 

There have been received at the Hampton general hospital 547 
wounded New York soldiers. Since May 6th to date viz., 28th, of 
these but 10 have died, and these all arrived within 24 to 36 hours 
of receiving their wounds — bad cases and all. Less than 2 per 
cent, thus far, of our brave fellows have died of their wounds in 
this hospital. I sent you a notice of arrangement made with Dr. 
McClellan about forwarding supplies. Same day I made an ar- 
rangement with provost marshal at Norfolk to regulate for me and 
the Christian commission the prices of what we buy for hospitals, 
so that the speculators should not deprive the soldiers of the full 
benefit of our money. 

Thanking you for your authorization of these purchases, and for 
your carte blanche as to my going where I could do the best, I 
assure you I will do it to the best of my ability. 



86 REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

'If there is another seyere fight as on the 16th, I may go again 
to the front. I was there that day, and remained till the 20th. 
Eespectfully your obed't servant, 

THEODORE DIMON, 

Agent State JYew YorJc. 

Dr. Theo. Dimon's Eeport to the New York State Agency. 

Norfolk, Va., August 20, 1864. 
D. "WiLLEES, Jr., Private Sec'y Governor S. N. Y. : 

Sir — The communication of the 15th of July, 1864, sent me by 
you in regard to Bernard McMullen, private company A, 100th 
N. Y. Vols., prisoner under military sentence in Norfolk jail, has 
Hot received my attention till within a day or two past, owing to 
the fact that I was, by orders of the general agent of the State, at 
the north during part of the months of July and August, and sub- 
sequently engaged in going to City Point to establish a field 
agency. 

I have to report in the case of McMullen, that he was released 
from confinement in the jail, on the 26th of July, and is now serv- 
ing out the remainder of his sentence at camp Hamilton, in mili- 
tary dress and the usual military restrictions only. I have the 
honor to report also that I have examined the law of Congress in 
that I'cspect, the orders of the generals, the sentences of court 
martial and the places of confinement, including quarters, cloth- 
ing, food, labor and treatment of our soldiers in this district under 
sentence to labor and forfeiture of pay and allowances for a term 
of months or years, and I am satisfied, that in all respects, the 
general fact is that soldiers receiving these sentences thereby es- 
cape execution ; that the orders in their cases are according to law 
of Congress, which was passed to avoid the death penalty, as also 
is the case with the sentences of courts martial, and that these sen- 
tences are not carried out in the labor prisons in a spirit of height- 
ening, but rather of ameliorating the punishment of the soldier. 
The convict dress is put on to save the expense of a large guard, 
and on the same principle as it is put on our State convicts. Quar- 
ters, food, labor and treatment, are preferable to our State prison 
arrangements, and 99 in 100 are released long before their term 
of punishment expires. 

I have procured the release of several New York soldiers and 
am always met in my applications by the military authoritico with 
every apparent courtesy and disposition to do justice to our soldiers. 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 87 

I am happy to be able to report thus favorably because my first 
impressions were altogether hostile to the idea that our soldiers 
should be considered in the light of ordinary convicts and exposed 
to shame in the peculiar dress, &c., of convicts, when punished for 
military offences. 

I send you a list of New York soldiers and their sentences, so 
confined up to July first. In the case of John C. Johnson, com- 
pany G, 112th N. y., to which you refer as a case previously pre- 
sented to me, I could not interfere. His sentence was mild for 
his offence, only six months for deserting post, and as he only 
complained of the dress and labor, and not of the term of sen- 
tence, there was no ground to interfere for" him. Two others of 
the same name, I have procured to be restoi-ed to their companies 
and pay, who were under heavy sentences. Indeed, there is no 
disposition to keep the men out of the ranks if a good reason can 
be found to restore them to the service ; and to a man justly con- 
fined it is no great kindness this year to send him into the field to 
be shot unless he is desirous of wiping off the stain on his charac- 
ter from crime by his blood shed in the field. There are, how- 
ever, cases of technical military offences, the punishment for which 
is severe, where I am certain after a short confinement to obtain 
release, and Avhen sometimes the sentence is set aside by the gen- 
eral from the moment of finding. One such case I found here not 
long after my arrival last year of a man sentenced to three years 
hard labor for deserting post. He was in the 3d N. Y. infantry, 
and it was to my mind evidently a case of severity for which his 
own regimental ofiicers were to blame. I wrote to president Lin- 
coln and very soon obtained his restoration to his regiment. I have 
written at length on this subject for two reasons, that the Gover- 
nor may be satisfied that no improper harshness is applied inten- 
tionally to the soldier, and that in every case it is easy to obtain 
amelioration of punishment where the circumstances will admit of 
it, with any show of propriety. 

Kespectfully your obedient servant, 

THEODOEE DIMON, 

Affent S. J\''. Y. 

Hon. John F. Seymouk, General Agent of the State of New York: 
Sir — I respectfully submit a report of the agency of the Stat© 
in the district of Eastern Virginia from January 1st, 1864, to 
December 1st, 1864. 



88 REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

. * This agency was established in September, 1863, at which time 
there Avere twenty New York regiments stationed in the district. 
This number did not vary much till April, 1864, when a much 
larger njimbcr of our soldiers were concentrated for the campaign 
under Gen. Butler. 

The U. S. general hospitals in this district have received their 
■patients from Gen. Butler's "Army of the James," while those 
from the army of the Potomac have been sent to Washington. 
The army of the James constitutes two-fifths of the force operating 
against Richmond, 

From January l,st, 1864, to December 1st, 18G4, there have been 
admitted to the general hospitals of this district over seven thou- 
eaud sick and wounded New York soldiers. 

The business of your agent has been to visit these soldiers and 
render them such assistance as they needed, and was in his power 
to furm'sh. This assistance has been of two kinds, viz : furnishing 
physical supplies, and attending to the rights and interests of the 
soldier. 

The physical relief afforded from the funds of the agency has 
been chiefly confined to supplying fresh fruits, such as apples, 
strawberries, lemons, oranges, etc., and to furnishing a good 
quality of bottled ale to those whose wounds were suppurating 
extensively, or who were suffering from gangrene. Articles of 
clothing have been obtained by your agent through an arrange- 
ment for that purpose with the sanitary commission, which arrange- 
ment terminated in September ; but since, upon representation of 
need, the christian and sanitary commissions send these supplies 
in response to the application of your agent. 

Assistance in regard to the rights and interests of our soldiers 
has been given by your agent, by obtaining for them transfer from 
hospitals here to New York hospitals; furloughs; discharges from 
the service for disability; pardons from imprisonment; release from 
arrest; bounties due; descriptive lists to enable them to receive 
pay; transfer of insane to asylum; aid in going home on furlough; 
facilitating removal of deceased soldiers to their friends by cor- 
respondence with relatives of soldiers, and by aiding flag of truce 
correspondence with our prisoners of war. 

Your agent has kept a register of New York soldiers admitted 
to these general hospitals, and has sent reports of the same to the 
Adjutant General of the State. 

The amount of the appropriation made by the Legislature pre- 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 89 

eluded the idea of any general expenditure for physical relief; 
since the sum appropriated, if applied to the purchase and distri- 
bution of supplies, would have been wholly inadequate for two 
years service. The rule having been adopted not to divert the 
gifts of our people from the sanitary and christian commissions to 
the State agency, the latter has enjoyed no benefit from this quar- 
ter, except by calling on these commissions in behalf of cases of 
need among our soldiers, and these calls have, in the case of the 
agency here, been promptly and freely i-esponded to. 

The relief fund of the agency has been reserved for unusual 
emergencies. For a time after the opening of the campaign this 
year these emergencies were great and severe. This was an 
unavoidable contingency of the campaign, and notwithstanding 
the immense preparations of the medical department of the army, 
and the assistance rendered by the commissions and the State 
agents, a great deal of suffering must have gone unrelieved. 

The law of our State contemplates furnishing aid to our soldiers 
in general hospitals, or in transit to their homes, rather than in 
the field; and the work of the agency has been mainly founded 
upon this requirement. The people, however, have manifested a 
decided expectation that State aid should be extended to the 
soldier in the field. Such aid has not been withheld, but by 
necessity has been occasional only. Early in this campaign this 
subject was taken up in your correspondence with me, and I 
recommended a systematized and permanent extension of the 
agency to the armies operating against Richmond. After full 
discussion of the details of the plan, and after selection of judi- 
cious and experienced agents to undertake the duties, and after 
obtaining the consent of the military authorities to these agents 
acconlpanying the army and aiding our soldiers so long as they 
conformed to military orders and i-egulations, the plan failed of 
accomplishment from the lack of the funds necessary to meet the 
expense of it. 

Appended will be found a statement of the number of New York 
soldiers admitted to the general hospitals in this district, and of 
the deaths occurring; amono; them, too-ether with other details in 
regard to them; also, a statement of the relief afforded, and an 
inventory of the property of the State at this agency. 
Respectfully submitted by 

THEODORE DIMON, Agent State of New York. 

NoKTOLK, Va., JVb. 74 3fam street, Dec. 12th, 1864. 



90 REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

Statement of soldiers of New York admitted to the U. S. General 
Hospitals in the District of Eastern Virginia, from January 1, 
1864, to November 30, 1864. 

Admitted 7,045 

Discharged for disability 32 

Discharged by expiration of term of service 19 

Transferred to Northern hospitals 3,720 

Deserted 6 

Died : 381 

Returned to duty 1,484 

Statement of relief afforded by JYew York State Agent to New 
York soldiers, in the Department of Eastern Virginia, from 
January 1, 1864, to November 30, 1864. 

Discharges for disability procui'ed 17 

Transfers to New York general hospitals procured 540 

Aid in obtaining furloughs : 65 

Pardons from imprisonment procured 5 

Releases from arrest procured 23 

Bounties due procured 38 

Descriptive lists obtained 154 

Transfer to lunatic asylum 1 

Aid to furloughed soldiers 53 

Aiding; in removal of bodies of deceased soldiers to their 

friends 36 

Numl)er receiving physical relief from agent 1,250 

Number of letters v^a-itten by agent to relatives of sick, 

wounded and deceased, and of pi-isoners of war 1,283 

Inventory of property of the State of New York at the Agency at 
Norfolk, Virginia, December 1, 1864. 

One laro-e table $12 00 

One small table 2 00 

Four chairs at 10s. each 5 00 

One coal scuttle and sifter 1 50 

Total amount $20 50 



I certify the above inventory to include all the property of the 
State of New York at the State agency at Norfolk, Virginia, 
December 1, 1864, and that the value attached to each article is a 
fair and reasonable one. THEODORE DIMON, 

Agent State of New York. 

Norfolk, Va., December 1, 1864. 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. i 91 

( No. 12. ) 

N, Y. State Agetcct, Eighty-five West Fayette st., 1 
Baltimore, Maryland, December 8, 1864. ) 

Mr. John F. Seymour, General Agent State of JVew York: 

In accordance with your request, I submit a report of the busi- 
ness, &c., of the Baltimore branch of the New York State agency, 
organized under the act of the Legislature " to provide additional 
means of relief for the sick and wounded soldiers of New York, 
in the United States service." 

My report will necessarily be general in its character, partly in 
consequence of the variety of the duties performed, and partly for 
the reason that, not having control of the business until within the 
few past weeks, I did not make statistical notes, and keep memo- 
randa with the care I would have done had I known that the 
responsibility of writing a report would devolve on me. 

Personal observation during the last five months, and limited 
knowledge of the business previous to my appointment as agent 
in June last, acquired from authentic sources, will enable me to 
comprise in my report the period of time between the first daj's 
of Mi:rjh and December, 1864. 

The hospitals in this city, and those at the cities of Wilmington 
and Annapolis; at Annapolis Junction, and at Camp Parol, near 
Annapolis; also, the two small-pox hospitals — one on the Patapsco 
river, near Baltimore, the other on Chesapeake bay, near Annapo- 
lis — are, for the purposes of the above mentioned act, within the 
jurisdiction of this agency. And when I inform you that these 
general hospitals, exclusive of the two appropriated to small-pox 
cases, and also of four post hospitals located respectively at Forts 
McHenry, Marshall, Federal Hill and at Camp Bradford, have 
capacity for no less than eight thousand one hundred and fifty 
beds, which for the most part have been occupied, an idea may be 
formed of the labor required, and of the opportunities presented 
for relieving the sick and wounded soldiers of our State. 

Below I furnish the names and capacities of the U. S. general 
hospitals in the middle department, eighth army corps: 

Jarvis, West Baltimore street, Baltimore, Md 1,380 beds. 

Patterson Park, East Lombard street, Baltimore, Md 1,200 " 

National, Camden street, Baltimore, Md 400 " 

West's Building, Union dock, Baltimore, Md 425 " 

McKims, McKims street, Baltimore, Md 300 " 

Newton, Lexington street, Baltimore, Md 200 " 



92 REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

Officers hospital, navy yard, Annapolis, Md 409 beds. 

Division No. 1, do do 1,117 " 

Division No. 2, St. John's college, do _. 661 " 

Annapolis Junction, Annapolis Junction, Md 290 " 

Camp Parol, near Annapolis, Md 1,416 " 

Tilton, Wilmington, Del 352 " 

8,150 " 

In addition to the above hospital capacity at Camp Parol, there 
is also at that place bed capacity for about 7,000 paroled prisoners 
of war, making an aggregate of 15,150 beds. 

The following statistics relate to New York soldiers exclusively, 
in the middle department: 

The number of patients in hospital March 1st, 1864 712 

The number admitted from March 1st to Nov. 30th, 1864, 

inclusive .- 12,577 

13., 289 

Of these there has been returned to duty 6, 129 

transferred out of department 5,214 

deserted . 420 

been discharged 184 

died 407 

Eemain in hospital Nov. 30th, 1864 926 

13,289 



In the officer's hospital at Annapolis, opened May 19th, 1864, 

there has been admitted to Nov. 30th, 1864, 509. 

Of these there has been discharged 64 

returned to duty 239 

deserted 3 

died 2 

Patients remaining in hospital Nov. 30, 1864 201 

~5'09 



To ascertain the condition of the sick and wounded, and admin- 
ister as much as possible to their relief, we have visited, with the 
exception of the one at Wilmington, not only all of the above 
named hospitals, but also that at Harrisburgh, and on special occa- 
sions those at Frederick City, which contain about sixteen hundred 
beds. In July last I went to the latter place and found one hun- 
dred and eighty-one men who had been wounded on the 9th of 
that month in the terrible and disastrous battle of Monocacy. Of 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 93 

these, sixty-seven were from the State of New York and mostly of 
the 9th regiment, heavy artillery and of the 106th regiment N. Y. 
infantry. As the hospitals were only three or four miles from the 
field, those most severely womided were couvej^ed to them, while 
others less so, were sent to Baltimore and other distant places. 

I may remark here, that changes rapidl}^ occur in the location 
of patients by transfer, in consequence of the necessity of keeping 
room in hospitals nearest the front to receive those most severely 
wounded in successive battles. 

The one at Frederic, and indeed all the hospitals ^sdthin this 
branch of the New York agency, are under such general good 
management, in charge of such competent surgeons, vnth their 
respective corps of eificient assistants, and attended, with excep- 
tional cases, by such careful and experienced nin-ses, some of them 
benevolent ladies from various and clistant parts of the country, 
that comparatively little in the way of relieving physical suffering 
remains for the State agents to perform. 

One day last summer on entering a hospital ward in this city, 
. my attention was attracted to the cot of a dying man,' by whose 
side sat a lady who had left friends and her distant northern home 
to become a hospital nurse. ^ By her anxious care and gentle man- 
ner a stranger might have judged her to be the soldiers daughter. 
It was then noon, and I was subsequently informed that she had 
not moved from the spot, except to serve him, since the midnight 
before. I stood some moments at the foot of the bed contemplat- 
with mingled feelings of sorrow and admiration the scene of human 
suffering and female loveliness, before she became conscious of my 
presence, so intently she watched, lest the slightest opportunity 
might escape to relieve his anguish. In my conversation with her 
she said: "this poor old man, a German, has only one relative 
in this country, a daughter, of whom he often talked and dearly 
loved. I thought it might soothe her anguish to learn that a 
woman nursed him in his sickness and dying hour, and thei"efore, 
on his own and her account, I try to feel and act as I think she 
would if she herself were here." 

About two hours after I went into the ward aarain. The cot 
was vacant; clean white sheets were spread over it; the old man's 
flickering light of life had gone out; his body had been taken to 
the dead house, and she who had nursed him for his own and liis 
daughter's sake, exhausted by long, unbroken watchfulness, had 
retired to repose. 



94 REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

I have thus alluded to this touching incident, which exhibits 
war's lights as well as shadows, to solace those whose I'elatives and 
friends fate may hereafter cast sick or wounded into the hospitals 
of this department. They will always receive kind treatment, and 
in many instances the most tender care. 

In hospitals, when soldiers have not their descriptive lists, it is 
difficult and sometimes impossible for them to obtain wearing 
apparel sufficient for a change. In such cases, being destitute of 
money, often in consequence of not having received for many 
months their government pay, much inconvenience and some suf- 
fering would, ensue, unless relieved from a charitable source. 
These wants are discovered by visiting the hospitals, or by per- 
sonal application of the men at this office ; and have been supplied, 
so far as practicable, by this agency. 

The most general want, however, and, I may say, need of hos- 
pital soldiers, is tobacco. Although, perhaps, somewhat directly 
injurious to health, it seems, nevertheless, to calm their restiveness, 
buoy their minds and render them comparatively cheerful ; and 
thus, the happy influence of emotions it excites on their physical 
health, far outweighs in my judgment any deleterious effects from 
its use. Chewing and smoking in hospitals may be regarded as 
employments. The soldier's life there is most dull, monotonous 
and depressing. For successive weeks and months he is confined 
by sickness or womids. He thinks of home, mother, wife and 
children, and longs to be with them, but cannot, either through 
physical weakness, the want of peciuaiary means, or inability, for 
some reason, to obtain a furlough, or be transferred to his own 
State. The influences around him, except the kindness of strangers, 
are depressing. In the same ward with him are men fright- 
fully wounded, others sick and some dying. The atmosphere 
he breathes is offensive with impurities which the greatest 
care cannot prevent. He grows weary of plain diet, and, if able 
to walk, of the daily routine of marching to his meals. His 
spirits droop, his hopes are paralj^zed, and he becomes afflicted 
with the worst type of chronic melancholy. Now, he hank- 
ers without a cent, after something; and moistens a finger 
airainst his tongue with the hope that a few ancient particles 
of tobacco dust may adhere to it, as he fambles through his already 
well scraped pockets. I have seen men cheerful when first brought 
into hospital, though suffering from wounds, gradually become 
disheartened as their wounds healed up, and finally sink into 



FOE SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 95 

despair. For a mind diseased, under such circumstances, I am 
satisfied that tobacco is a valuable antidote, and, therefore, have 
caused considerable quantities of it to be distributed among the 
soldiers of our State. It is impossible, however, to limit kind 
ofiices to the New York men ; and especially in distributing to- 
bacco, one cannot say, "no" to the imploring looks of those from 
other States. 

I have alluded thus particularly to this subject, with the hope 
of contributing a mite to the eifort which I am informed is being made, 
to induce the Government to furnish soldiers with tobacco rations. 

The entrance of a New York State agent into a hospital ward 
immediately creates the most pleasant excitement among the men 
of that State. Those well enough gather around, and the sick 
turn to look at him. No matter where the soldier's body is, the 
heart is at home ; and he regards any one from his State as a 
neighbor and friend. To talk with him, therefore, not only makes 
him happy, but does him good. When I informed a sick man that I 
had been sent to Baltimore by our State, in behalf of its sick and 
wounded soldiers, grateful tears suffused his eyes, as he took my 
hand, and said, in broken accents, "How kind that is ; to know 
I am thus cared for does me more good than medicine !" I have, 
therefore, devoted much time with our soldiers at the hospitals ; 
and, as tobacco, in cases where they desire it, seems to have a 
beneficial influence on the mind, it has been my general custom, on 
approaching each man, to present him with some, in order that 
my words might take the stronger hold, and thus yield more 
abundant fruits of contentment and cheerfulness. 

Military hospitals are good schools to study the influence of 
mental conditions on health, and the power of endurance. My 
experience may not have been sufficiently frequent to justify me 
in unqualifiedly asserting it to be a law of nature, that more men 
will recover from wounds inflicted in a battle where they are vic- 
torious, than in one, other things equal, where they are defeated. 
After the disastrous battle at Monocacy, however, the contrast was 
manifest between the spirits of our own men and the confederates 
who had been wounded. While the former Avere gloomy and 
despondent, the latter were comparatively cheerful and hopeful of 
recovery. An accompanying surgeon also noticed the same fact. 
At Jarvis hospital, observing an athletic man, who had been 
brought in from one of Sheridan's victorious engagements, in great 
agony from a wound, I approached him and said "You seem to 



96 REPORT OP THE GENERAL AGENT 

suffer intensely." " Oh, j^es,"" he replied, " and I couldn't stand it, 
if we hadn't o'iven them such a drubbiuo; !" Numerous instances 
of like nature have come within my observation. 

In addition to administering physical relief in cases of special 
necessity, to furnishing various articles of luxury, and gratifying 
and encouraging men by conversation and sympathy, we have 
aided them by obtaining State bounties, furloughs and transfers ; 
their discharges, when no longer fit for service ; back pay and 
transportation to their homes, and their rations during confine- 
ment as prisoners of war. Nmiierous letters of complaint and for 
relief, for investigation by the Governor of New York, received 
by him from soldiers at forts and in hospitals in this department, 
and these letters of course have received our prompt attention. 
We have been called on for pecuniary aid by soldiers passing 
through this city, who complained of having lost or having been 
robbed of their money ; and when satisfied of their good faith by 
careful examination, we have either furnished or aided them in 
procuring the means of traveling. Soldiers occasionaly suffer 
through dishonesty of superior officers to whom they entrust 
money. I recently obtained for a paroled prisoner one hundred 
and fifteen dollars from his captain, to whom he had given it 
many months before for transmission to a dependent wife and 
children. We have also furnished writing materials and postage 
stamps ; telegraphed and written in their behalf to relatives and 
friends. In numerous instances their families, especially after a 
battle, have addressed to this office letters of inquiry concerning 
their fate or condition. Such letters have always been immedi- 
ately attended to, and our efforts in obtaining the required infor- 
mation have generally been successful. It has frequently been 
our painful duty to transmit to the soldier's home the first intelli- 
gence of his death. In such cases we have made diligent inquiry 
after any alleviating facts which may have attended it, in order, 
by comrrumlcating them also, to abstract somewhat from the poig- 
nancy of sorrow. I intend no reflection by implication on the 
most excellent management of any of the hospitals in this depart- 
ment by more special allusion to tliose at Annapolis. At Patter- 
son Park, in the suburbs of this city, and at Camp Parol, places 
for shelter, to Avash, sleep and eat in, are rudely constructed for 
temporary use, unshaded by trees, and the grounds, though kept 
thoroughly clean, are without grass-plats or lawns. No human 
effort can make such hospitals so comfortable interiorly, or so 



\ 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 97 

pleasant in their suvroundiiigs, as those at AnDnapolis, where art 
and nature combine for the welfare of the sick and wounded. 
The numerous, s^lbstantial and commodious buildings formerly 
occupied by the naval school, and also those at St. John's College, 
with their extensive lawns, shaded by trees and intersected by 
winding paths, arc occupied as general hospitals. The beautiful 
land and water scenery of the surrounding country, and cool 
breezes from the Chesapeake, contribute to charm the senses and 
elevate the spirits of the thousands of emaciated, ghastly-looldng 
beings who arrive there from the Libby and other southern 
prisons. 

The best use is made of the excellent culinar}^ facilities ; and 
here paroled prisoners obtain, what they have been long unaccus- 
tomed to, viz., an abundance and variety of well cooked vegetable 
diet, so grateful to their taste and essential to the health. I have 
never heard a soldier at Annapolis speak but in praise of his 
treatment there. It is true that his mind, immediately after his 
arrival, becomes in the most fit state to appreciate, if not to mag- 
nify, their newly acquired blessings. The poisonous atmosphere 
of a crowded southern prison ; the hard floor for a bed, or a pal- 
let of straw ; coarse, unwholesome and badly cooked food, dealt 
out in starving proportions, are all suddenly exchanged for the 
comforts and some luxuries which skill and kindness can procure. 
A soldier, then recently from Eichmoud, in speaking of the con- 
trast, said : "I feel as if I were translated from the lower regions 
into Paradise !" It is almost impossiijle to conceive of the wretch- 
edness of men who have long been inmates of southern prisons. 
That they arc badly treated there, is evident from their universal 
testimony, corroborated by the conclusive evidence of their phy- 
sical condition. I have heard some, however, allege, that their 
treatment was as good as that of rebel soldiers, and justify south- 
ern authorities by the plea of necessity. When the paroled 
prisoners who have sufficient strength to survive the voyage, 
arrive at Annapolis, they are at once relieved of filth and vermin 
■ by thorough cleansing, and clad in new, clean clothes. The sick 
are carried into the hospitals, and others are sent to Camp Parol, 
two miles distant. This post is under command of Col. A. G. 
Eoot, 94th Eegt., N. Y. V., and excepting officers in charge and 
assistants, and troops on duty as guarcts, it is wholly occupied by 
paroled prisoners of war. It is the most responsible, and perhaps 
the most difficult post to manage in the whole department. Many 
[Senate, No. 83.] 7 



98 KEPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

are convalescents from hospitals. With nothing to do, able to 
travel, desirous of going home, their nervous systems shattered by 
previous sickness and sufferiug, they are naturally fretful and dis- 
contented. To the strict discipline and judicious treatment of 
those in charge, must be atti'ibuted the good order which prevails. 

At Annapolis, besides the general hospitals at the naval school, 
and at St. John's College, respectively in charge of surgeons B. 
A. Vanderkieft and G. S. Palmer, there is what is termed the 
Middle Department, which is also in charge of Dr. Vanderkieft. 
This is the officers' hospital. Those officei'S whose appetites are 
not limited by sickness fare sumptuously here every day. In the 
large dining room of the naval school long tables glitter with 
handsome ware, and groan beneath substantial food and luxuries, 
artistically prepared. The officers pay $1 per day for board. 

On my first visit to the naval school hospital, one afternoon last 
summer, I saw as I entered the gate a procession approaching it, 
consisting of an ambulance, preceded by a band in handsome uni- 
form, playing a funeral dirge, and follo>yed by a detachment of 
soldiers with arms reversed. The three bodies in the ambulance 
had just been brought from the chapel where religious services had 
been held, and surviving comrades were accompaning them to the 
soldiers' cemetery. How grateful, I thought, would their relatives 
feel if they could have witnessed the solemn rites which had just 
been performed over the dead, and the respect thus paid to their 
memories by conveying them with military honors to their graves. 
I subsequently visited the cemetery, a beautiful sequestered spot 
about one mile from the hospital. Its paths were clean and on the 
long white rows of substantial head-boards were neatly inscribed 
the name, age, company, regiment, State and the date of the death 
of those beneath them ; all impressed me with the untruthfulness 
of the poet's lines on the fate of soldiers, when he wrote : 

" They're but ambitious tools, to cut a way 
To her unlawful ends; and when they're worn, 
Hack'd, hewn with constant service; thrown aside 
To rust in Peace, and rot in hospitals." 

Many of our New York soldiers sleep in this beautiful cemetry. 
"Wild flowers and birds sing requiems over their peaceful graves. 

At Baltimore the former mansion and grounds of General J. B. 
Stewart, situated in the sulmrbs of the city, are now known as the 
Garvis hospital. It is in cfiarge of Dr. De Witt C. Peters. In 
surrounding and beauty of location it is second only to those at 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 99 

Annapolis. Here, too, ancient trees cast grateful shades upon the 
wards beneath, and invite the invalid forth from his weary couch 
to saunter along the intersecting paths. The whole place is a 
model of cleanliness, and the men seem to be as happy as men in 
hospitals can be. Here, also, appropriate religious services are 
held in the chapel over those who die, and the sick receive the 
kindest care. 

Of Patterson Park, in charge of surgeon Thomas Sim, who until 
recently has .had the valuable assistance of Dr. A. B. Cherbonnier, 
now at Annapolis ; of the National, or Camden st. hospital, in 
charge of surgeon Z. E. Bliss ; of that at Camp Parol, in charge 
until recently, of surgeon Geo. B. Parker, and indeed, of all the 
hospitals in this department, I can speak only in terms of praise. 

In conclusion, I beg leave to state, that my sympathies for sick 
and wounded men, and for their families, have rendered the faith- 
ful performance of duty my greatest pleasure ; and that I have 
already reaped rich rewards for my labors in the consciousness of 
having done good, in the gratitude expressed by soldiers, and also 
in numerous letters received from their friends. 
Very respectfully, 

G. M. MUNDY, 
New York State Agent at Baltimore. 



(No. 13.) 

Dr. Lewis Post's Report to the New York State Agency. 

JoBDsr F. Seymoue, Esq., General Agent New York : 

Sir — My labors were continued at Washington and vicinity until 
the 14th of May, when, in connection with others, I was ordered 
to Belle Plain. Here Dr. Maxon and myself were placed in charge 
of 4th' division hospital, and we remained there doing active duty 
for ten days. The day previous to the evacuation we were ordered 
to report to Surgeon Dalton, U. S. A., medical director at Fred- 
ericksburgh. After spending a day in visiting the various hospi- 
tals, particularly those of the fifth corps, I was ordered in charge 
of the transport George Weems to convey such cases as were una- 
ble to be transferred to Acquia Creek by rail. The first load we 
discharged on the " State of Maine" at Port Eoyal. I expected to 
have gone with the same to "Washington, but was ordered by Dr. 
Cuyler, U. S. A., to continue in charge, and report again, without 



100 REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

delay, at Freclericksburgh, which we did on the following day. 
We remained at Fredericl^sburgh some thirty-six hours, waiting 
for wounded expected in from the Wilderness. The time, how- 
ever, was profitably spent in policeing the vessel, arranging for the 
eomfoi't of the soldier, and preparing for what proved to be the 
evacuating load. Our transport soon became crowded not only 
with the sick and badly wounded, but with officers, attendants, 
both sexes of the different commissions, refugees, contrabands, 
horses, luggage, and one severe case of small-pox. A mass, hete- 
rogeneous and conglomerated, in a small hot space, exhaling every 
variety of effluvia, in all peculiar, concentrated, and obnoxious 
perfections. 

With tliis load we moved off. The city had not passed from 
our vicAV, before the enemy in small force took possession. The 
tide being unfavorable, we lay protected by a gunboat in shoal 
water, three miles below the city, for sixteen hours, with a barge 
we had in tow. Early in the morning we were able to move, and 
at 10 A. M. landed at Port Eoyal. Here we discharged a part of 
our load, and took aboard sick and slightly wounded two hundred 
and fifty, with instructions from Dr. Cuyler to transfer the same on 
the first transport we met, and then proceed to Washington. For- 
tunately, we found the Western Metropolis in waiting some 50 
miles below, and gave her a part of our load — receiving in return 
supplies we much needed. Ai-rived in Washington at 4 A. M. 
Our report was accepted by the medical director as satisfactory. 
During the passage we lost two. These were placed in our hands 
in a dying condition at Fredericksburgh. 

To surgeons, ladies, and nursas in attendance, who wei'e so ardu- 
ously employed during this protracted trip, and especially to Dr. 
Maxson, who voluntarily accompanied me the second time, and 
whose exertions, I fear, have laid him on a sick bed, my thanks arc 
specially due. 

Since the 3d of June I have been, as ordered, connected with 
the agency at Baltimore; have carefully visited all hospitals, and 
some of them several times. New York has here at this da,te 
1,000 soldiers. Their condition generally is not bad; all desire a 
transfer to their own State. I accompanied Dr. Maxson to Harris- 
burgh per order of Mr. Ferry. There are no hospitals in Harris- 
burgh. There is a large one at York, containing now, I am in- 
formed, 1,800 patients. As I passed through, learned that we had 
boys there. I suggest that York receive some attention, if it has 



FOR SICE AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. lOl 

not already had it. The soldier likes to be visited; attention to 
his wants gives assurance that he is not forgotten by the authori- 
ties of his own State. Timely visit and conversation, properly 
conducted, carry with them a most happy influence to cheer and 
comfort. It is good to visit the soldier. My report, I find, is far 
more lengthy than I designed. 

Respectfully yours, &c., 

LEWIS POST. 

Dr. Post's Eeport op the Agency at Harrisburgh, Pa. 
John F. Seymour, Esq., General Agent of New York : 

Sir — I arrived at Harrisburgh on the 1st of August; found there 
had been much sufiering among the soldiers during the season, in 
consequence of there being no surgeon on hand to care for the sick 
and wounded. Arrangements Avere soon perfected for the Sanitary 
Commission to occupy a building near to the depot, formerly 
erected by two benevolent individuals of Harrisburgh, and by them 
kept in operation during the past season. We found it well pro- 
vided with every necessary utensil and stove, except food and at- 
tendants. The last-named is now furnished by the commission, to- 
gether with all necessary medicines, lint, bandages, &c. Since 
re-opening this establishment (five weeks ago), over 350 have been 
admitted, and have had our special attention. Besides, numbers 
have called at the Rest for medical prescriptions, and to have their 
wounds attended to. Of this number, about one-sixth part have 
been New York soldiers. Previous to opening the Rest, Captain 
Lee, in charge of the Soldiers' Depot, informs me that frequently 
they were obliged to call on citizen physicians, or send two miles 
for an army surgeon. 

In addition to the above duties, twice I have visited the general 
hospital at York, once the post hospital at Carlisle, and several 
times the one at this place; besides visiting a New York battery 
across the river where we have 45 New York soldiers. I am happy 
to add, that the benevolent proprietors of the Rest, Messrs. Simon 
and Biar, together with several ladies, most heartily co-operate for 
the soldiers' good. It is thought that this building can be advan- 
tageously kept open for a few weeks yet. There has been no time, 
since I left the Rappahamiock, when I have felt that my time has 
been more profitably spent. 

Very respectfully, your obed't servant, 

. LEWIS POST, 
Harrisburgh, Pa., September 24, 1864. 



10 EEPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

(No. 14.) 

General Eeport of the Agent for New York Volunteers 
AT Philadelphia — Office 1021 Chestnut St. 

Under the benignant smiles of Divine Providence, the labors of 
this agency have been prosecuted another year with constantly 
auffmentino; usefulness. 

Your agent has not been absent from his field of duty for a sin- 
gle day and his time of daily service has been at least one-third 
more than that of the offices of the government. 

The hospitals of this medical department are nineteen in num- 
ber. The one most remote from this office is at Pittsburgh, a dis- 
tance of 350 miles ; another at York, is 150 ; two are 18, one 12, 
one 10, one 7, and the remainder diminishing in distance from 
seven miles to one-half. 

The aggregate capacity of these for patients is 25,000. The 
battles of the spring and summer campaigns filled and replenished 
all these with the unfortunate victims from the fields of strife. 
To these sacrifices to subdue rebellion and restore the authority of 
legitimate government, the State of New York had liberally con- 
tributed. 11,430 of its soldiers have been admitted to these hos- 
pitals since the commencement of the year. Many are here now 
requiring the unremitting attentions of this agency. 

The varied wants of so many suffering soldiers are numerous — 
and whither can they look for relief? The kindred and friends of 
home are too remote to respond with their sympathizing words 
and ready hands. Military discipline is too rigorous to manifest 
much that is paternal. Its tones are mandatory and its scejDtre 
iron ; its orders and regulations are general and absolute, and it 
grants but little discretionary power. To examine the details of 
individual suffering and accord the needful sympathy and aid, it 
has neither time, place, nor spirit. When the government has 
done all that could be reasonably expected to mitigate the suffer- 
ings and horrors of war, much remains to be performed by other 
adapted and less restricted agencies. In their efforts in behalf of 
soldiers, the chi-istian and sanitary commissions and State agencies, 
each in its appropriate sphere, has won unfading laurels. These 
agencies have been called into being by an imperative necessity, 
and while the necessity exists they cannot be abandoned without 
doing serious damage to the army and the country. Their neces- 
sary lifetime will reach to and beyond the period when the war 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 103 

will terminate. What the State of New York has clone to create 
and sustain these agencies, will justify her claim to a preeminently 
lil)eral and patriotic spirit. While she has given more soldiers to 
our armies, her voluntary contributions to the christian and sani- 
tary commissions and her State provisions for their benefit, have 
been greater than that of any other State and more than that of 
many of the States combined. The system of State agencies for 
the soldiers, for extent and efficiency, remains unrivalled. 

This branch alone has been of priceless value to thousands. It 
has furnished necessary clothing to a multitude of the needy. It 
has given to many small sums of money and supplied many with 
stationery, postage and tobacco. It has obtained thousands of 
dollars for the soldiers of bounties due them from the State, and 
in every instance paid the claimant without the abatement of a 
single cent. To a great extent it has aided the soldiers to procure 
discharges, transfers, furloughs and descriptive lists. It has given 
them information, solved their difficulties, wrote letters for them, 
obtained redress for grievances, and formed a channel of commu- 
nication between them and the ofiicers of the government, and 
given them salutary counsel on subjects vitally connected with 
their highest interests as men and soldiers. Substantial aid has 
been furnished to soldiers on transit, and poor, friendless, home- 
less, discharged ones, often sick and often crippled, have been 
properly cared for and aided in obtaining a temporary rest and 
home. In some instances, the wives and families of the soldiers 
have been relieved by this agency. 

For the young soldier, a special regard has been manifested ; to 
the erring, kind rebukes and judicious counsel have been given, 
and many a soldier, it is hoped, has thus been saved from falling 
a victim to the deadly vices which infect our armies. 

A large amount of written correspondence and many personal 
interviews with the various ofiicials of this department, and to 
some extent a correspondence with the ofiicers at the seat of gov- 
ernment, have been required of your agent. 

In transacting the business of this agency the most kindly rela- 
tions have been cultivated and sustained, and the agency and your 
agent have, without exception, been treated with proper courtesy 
and respect. 

Agreeably to an arrangement made by the general agent of New 
York, with the president of the sanitary commission, your agency 
here has been enabled to supply many hundreds of soldiers with 



104 KEPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

such articles of clothiug as were needed for their health and com- 
fort, when relief from no other quarter could be obtained. 

Soldiers often lose their clothing through intemperance and 
theft ; more frequently on the field of battle, on forced marches 
and transits, and by other causes against which it is impossible tjo 
guard. Owing to frequent transfers and the difficulties of obtain- 
ing their descriptive lists, they fail often to receive their regular 
pay for many successive months. Hundreds, at this time, are in 
the hospitals here who have not been paid from four to ten months, 
and some even for a still longer period. Hardship and suffering 
are thus inflicted on the soldiers and their families for which some 
adequate remedy should be devised. State and voluntary agencies 
do much to alleviate their condition, but cannot do all that is ne- 
cessary for their relief. 

During the year, nearly all the hospitals of this department 
have been thoroughly visited several times, by your agent and 
assistants, passing through every ward, and going to every bed 
occupied by a New York soldier. The Guard barracks, also, have 
received like personal attention. These personal interviews have 
amounted to many thousands, and have resulted in much benefit to 
the soldiers. 

During a good portion of the year, the calls at the office of this 
agency have averaged more than fifty per day — a fact which pi'oves 
the value of the agency in the estimation of the soldiers. Such 
has been the personal attention and aid afforded by this agency, 
that your agent has frequently heard the soldiers of other States 
express a wish that they belonged to the State of New York that 
they might share in its paternal regards. 

In the course of the year your agent has received much valuable 
assistance in the labors of the agency. 

James Edgar, Esq., of Utica, assisted as clerk in the office about 
five months. The faithfulness and ability with which he discharged 
his duties, and the yalue of his services, are deserving of honorable 
mention. 

Dr. J. E. West, of Utica, also assisted your agent for three 
months, performing much and valuable service. In the month of 
September he was detailed by the general agent to examine the 
condition of the sick and wounded soldiers of New York, in the 
Valley of Virginia, and then return. The battle of Cedar Creek 
rendered his services necessary in that field until nearly the close 
of the year. His own report will detail his useful labors while 
absent. 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 105 

H. W. Chase, Esq., of Utica, accompanied your agent through 
several promment hospitals, performed an acceptable service, and 
fm-uished through the public press much valuable and desirable 
information derived from his visits. 

The Paymaster General of the State of New York, Col. J. D. 
Van Beuren, during nine successive days, in the month of July, 
visited, with your agent, some ten of the prominent hospitals. 
His kind and courteous bearing, and the interest he manifested for 
the soldiers- won their regard and elicited their commendation. 
Many applications for State bounty were received and forwarded, 
and those found to be just were shortly after paid. Such visits, 
often repeated, would not fail to magnify the paternal character of 
the State, and secure to it the strong and abiding attachment of 
the soldiers. 

In conducting this agency, the principles of a wise economy 
have been regarded. The expenditures have been as limited as its 
efficiency would allow. 

A sacred regard also to the humane and liberal basis on which 
it was founded has been observed. No party politics or religious 
sectarism was mingled with its foundation. The relief of New 
York soldiers was made its simple object. To eifect this your 
agent accepted his appointment. With this, the verbal and writ- 
ten instructions of the general agent of the State, given to this 
office, have always accorded. In his letter of instructions of Octo- 
ber 21st, 1864, in the flood time of political excitement, he says, 
in respect to arrangements to aid the soldiers to exercise the privi- 
lege of the elective franchise, "It is evident that if our agents 
keep any tickets, they should be of both sides; and, if keeping or 
distributing both leads to any wrangling, or impairs the usefulness 
of our agents, or subjects our agents to political attacks, they 
should be banished from our offices, and our agents should refuse 
to have anything to do with any and all tickets, powers of attorney, 
&c. Do not hesitate to act for the best interests of the agency 
and its highest character. 

"You can judge of these things much better than I can. We 
should avoid all evil and the appearance. We must not be mixed 
up with politics in such a way as to give ground to any one to take 
exception to it. Therefore, you have full authority to take such 
course as you think best calculated to avoid all grounds of just 
complaint." 

That this agency has been kept to its original intent, and con- 



106 REPORT OP THE GENERAL AGENT 

formed to the spirit and letter of instructions so wise and just, 
your agent challenges the strictest scrutiny. These instructions 
were in harmony with his cherished views and entire conduct. He 
had never sought to know the politics of the soldiers, and had 
never used the office for party purposes. While the agency 
remains in his hands it can never be degraded from its humane and 
liberal character to subserve the interests of any political party. 
It will continue to be, as it has been, his undeviating policy to 
promote the welfare of the soldiers, and make the office honorable 
to the State. All which is respectfully submitted. 

Eev. DAVID MALIN, D. D., 

JYew York State Agent, 
Office 1021 Chestnut St., Philadelphia. 
John F. Seymour, Esq., 

General Agent of the State of JSTeiv York 

for the relief of New York soldiers. 

( No. 15. ) 

Dr D. L. Eogers' Eeport op the New Orleans Agency. 

New York, August IQth, 1864. 
John F. Seymour, Esq., General Agent for Invalid Soldiers: 

Sir^ — I have the honor to offer the following report as a summary 
of my agency in the "Army of the Gulf," extending from the 18th 
of December, 1863, to the 31st of July, 1864. 

On my arrival at Ncav Orleans, the headquarters of the "Army 
of the Gulf," on the 6th of January last, I applied to the Adjutant 
General for a roll of the troops belonging to the State of New 
York. I was furnished with the following twenty-one regiments. 
This number was sul)sequent]y increased hj the arrival of three 
regiments of cavalry and several batteries, to wit : 
90th New York Volunteers, New Orleans, La. 



91st 


do 


do 


Brashear City, La. 


110th 


do 


do 


Franklin, La. 


114th 


do 


do 


do 


116th 


do 


do 


do 


128th 


do 


do 


Baton Eouge, La. 


131st 


do 


do 


Brashear City, La. 


133d 


do 


do 


Bonnet Carre, La. 


156th 


do 


do 


Baton Rouge, La. 


159th 


do 


do 


Tliibadeaux, La. 


160th 


do 


do 


Franklin, T^a. 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 107 

161st New York Volunteers, Franklin, La. 



162cl 


do 


do 


do 


165th 


do 


do 


do 


173cl 


do 


do 


do 


174tli 


do 


do 


do 


175th 


do 


do 


Baton Eouge, La. 


176th 


do 


do 


Bonnet Carre, La. 



75th mounted infantry in the field. 
14th cavalry, Carrolton, La. 

These regiments I found scattered over the State at remote 
distances, discharging garrison duty. My second object of inquiry 
was to ascertain the condition of the sick and wounded. I found 
in New Orleans five large military hospitals : the " St. James," 
"St. Lewis," "University," "Charity," "Marine and Barraclcs." 
The first four are situated within the city; the other two beyond 
its limits. 

The hospitals are all large and commodious buildings, well ven- 
tilated, and under an excellent system of organization. They are 
furnished with every requisite for the comfort and treatment of 
the sick and wounded. 

I beg to mention the surgeons in charge of the hospitals, in the 
highest terms of commendation, as. able and energetic in the dis- 
charge of their duties; and I embrace this opportunity to express 
my obligations for their courteous attention and their readiness at 
all times to aid me in the discharge of my duties. To Dr. Alex- 
ander I am under special obligations for many favors. 

The following was issued upon my arrival in the department : 

" Medical Director's Office, ? 
"New Orleans, Jan. lUh. 1864. \ 

" Surgeons in charge of generaL hospitals will admit Dr. D. L. 
Rogers at all times, and give him every facility in the transaction 
of his business. 

"E. H. ALEXANDER, Surgeon U. S. A., 

" Medical Director Department of the Gulf.''^ 

In connection with the above I may be permitted in this place 
to acknowledge the uniform kindness and attention received from 
Maj. Gen. Banks, and his anxiety on all occasions that the sick 
and wounded soldiers should be treated with every care and atten- 
tion. On presenting my credentials he issued the following order: 



108 repoet of the general agent 

"Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, ) 
"New Orleans, Jan. 2M, 1864. ] 

"Permission is hereby granted to Dr. D. L. Eogers, agent 
appointed by the State of New York to visit all the New York 
regiments in this department, to pass any point within the limits 
of the department, in his capacity of State agent. 

" The quartermaster is directed to furnish him transportation on 
any Government conveyance. 

"N.P.BANKS, 
'^Maj. Gen. Commanding." 

On my arrival I obtained from the surgeons of the hospitals a 
report of all the sick and wounded from the New York regiments. 
The aggregate number amounted to four hundred and four (404). 
Among the number reported I was much surprised to find so large 
a proportion of boys. In a letter addressed to Surgeon General 
Quackenbush, dated New Orleans, May 10th, 1864, I made the 
following statement: "I beg to call your attention to the subject 
of enlistments in the State of New York. I cannot say what 
authority you may exercise on that subject, but I insist that 
responsibility should rest on some one for the gross frauds prac- 
ticed on the State and General Government. In the enlistment of 
soldiers, permit me to cite, for example, the 2d regiment of volun- 
teer cavalry, raised in the western part of the State. Most of the 
recruits that have come under my observation are boys from thir- 
teen to sixteen years of age. The greater part of them broke 
down on the first day's march and have been returned to the hos- 
pitals. I believe the recruits have generally received the State 
and county bounty. I view the enlistment of these boys as inhu- 
man and dishonest. I hope, sir, if you have the authority, or can 
exercise an influence, you will arrest this shameful traffic in the 
life and blood of innocent children. I have to request that an 
official report may be made to his Excellency, the Governor, upon 
the subject. 

On the fu'st of April I addressed you a letter upon the subject 
of State and county bounties. Much dissatisfaction prevailed 
amongst the soldiers at that time, and the frauds to which were they 
subject from brokci'S and others, added greatly to their discontent. 
April 14th I addressed a letter of enquiiy to Orison Blunt, Esq., 
and received a circular in reply. This not being satisfactory, on 
the 3d of June I sent the following letter : 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 109 

New Okleans, June 3, 1864. 

Orison Blunt, Esq., CJiairman of Committee on Bounties: 

Sir — -There is much anxiety manifested by New York men here, 
on the subject of the county bounties. The circular says that the 
men must appear before the committee "in person." There arc 
many who cannot be furloughecl to go home after their bounties, 
and are desirous that some arrangement should be made that they 
can be paid here. There are sixty men in one regiment who 'AYent 
to New York on furlough in February last vuiinformed as to the 
method of obtaining their bounties ; and now, not being able to 
get another furlough, are compelled to go without them. They 
are subject to all kinds of frauds by men professing themselves 
able to obtain the bounties for them. For instance, the sutler of 
one regiment was at my office this morning desiring me to assist 
him in going on to New York to obtain their bounties, they hav- 
ing agreed to give him, according to his own statement, fifty dol- 
lars each. I write to ask if some arrangement cannot be made 
authorizing me to investigate cases of men claiming such bounties, 
and to pay them. I have made arrangements with the National 
Bank of New Orleans, to cash all such drafts at par. 
Your humble servant, 

D. L. EOGEES, M. A., N. Y. 

To this letter no answer was returned. In consequence of the 
non-payment of bounties a large number of men refused to re- 
enlist for the State of New York, and filled quotas of other states. 

The subject of transportation early attracted my attention on 
my arrival in New Orleans. I found no arrangement made or care 
taken of invalids going east by sea. It is true that much|care and 
a large amount of money has been expended upon transports going 
up the river, west, while those going home by sea were totally 
neglected. I found cases, onboard of steamships "Continental," 
"Mississippi" and "Merrimac," with palsy, diarrhoea and dysentery, 
without medical attention or nurses. On the 26th of February, 
addressed the following letter.to Maj. Gen. Banks : 

New Orleans, February 2^, 1864. 
Maj. Gen. Banks: 

Sir — As the agent for the State of New York, I hag respectfully 
to call your attention to the transportation of the sick and wounded 
from this department to the city of New York' on Government 
vessels. When the disabled soldiers are discharged from the 



110 REPORT OP THE GENERAL AGENT 

hospitals they receive a ticket of transportation from the quarter- 
masters, and here all official responsibility appears to cease. The 
transports are generally loaded with cotton and sugar between 
decks, and the sick are accommodated in the "hold" of the 
vessel. Many of the invalids are unable to help themselves. 
Most of them are destitute of bedding of any kind, without 
ventilation or any provision made for their comfort. To remedy 
the above, I beg to propose: 1st. That a ship should be provided 
by government to proceed semi-monthly to the city of New York 
from the city of New Orleans. The government to erect the bunks 
and to furnish the ship with provisions. The agent for New York, 
in connection with the sanitary commission, to furnish the bedding ; 
2d. A surgeon to be detailed by the department to take charge of 
the sick and attend them to New York ; 3d. I beg respectfully to 
suggest that an officer should be appointed, whose duty it shall be 
to take charge of the discharged sick and wounded in the depart- 
ment and attend to their comfortable return to their homes. 
With great respect. 

Your humble servant, 
D. L. EOGERS, 

Military Agent for New Yorlc. 

At a subsequent interview with Gen. Banks, he remarked, that 
every facility should be given me for transportation to New York, 
provided I would take charge of invalids going east — to which I 
readily assented. 

In my report of March_12th, I state, "Within the last month 
I have fitted out and transported about two hundred invalids. 
By an arrangement with the heads of dej)artments I am allowed 
every facility for attending to those invalids returning home. I 
am supplied with wagons, ambulances, provisions and a detail of 
men to do the work. Thus I am enabled to save the State a large 
expenditure for labor and transportation. 

To every transport was furnished mattrasses, pillows, blankets, 
provisions, medicines and nurses. 

The surgeon in charge was given the following order: 

"New Orleans. 
"gjj. — You will take charge of the sick and wounded on board 

of the steamship , and atttend them to the city of New 

York. Upon your arrival in the city of New York you will report 
without delay to Col. J. S. Neville, Superintendent of the State 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIEES. 11 1 

Soldiers' Depot, 50 and 52 Howard street, who will furuish trans- 
portation. You will turn over to Col. Neville all the hospital 
property in your possession and take his receipt for the same, and 
request him to return to my address all the bedding received by 
him from this department. 

" Eespectfally yours, 

"D. L. EOGEES, Agent for N. F." 

On the first of May the military hospitals in New Orleans 
became much crowded in consequence of a large number of sick 
and wounded brought in from Red Eiver, after the battles of the 
8th and 9th of April. The sick and wounded from New York 
had increased to nine hundred and eighty-six (986). As the sickly 
season was approaching, it became a subject of much anxiety as 
to the best means of relieving the hospitals. Should an epidemic 
disease break out in the city, it was evident, from the then crowd- 
ed condition, that the fatality must be great in the hospitals. On 
the 1st of June I convened the agents of all the states represented 
in New Orleans, to consider the subject at this meeting. It was 
agreed to make the following representation to General Banks : 

" New Orleans, June Uh, 1864. 
Maj.-Gen. N. P. Banks : 

Sir — The undersigned. Military Agents of States, would respect- 
fully repi'esent that the season is approaching Avhen epidemic dis- 
eases, peculiar to this climate, are likely to prevail. That a large 
number of sick and disabled soldiers are at jaresent in the military 
hospitals imfit for duty ; a part are permanently disabled and 
others would soon recover by a change to a more northern climate. 
We would beg further to represent that a number have been 
fraudulently introduced into the service physically disqualified for 
any duty. The responsibilty of enlisting them rests upon the 
examining surgeon and the enrolling officer. Thus men have 
received the bounties of States and from the general government, 
and are at this time drawing pay and subsistence, without the 
possibility of ever doing duty. We would respectfully propose 
that a board of surgeons be appointed to examine the sick and 
wounded in the hospitals for the purpose of discharging such as 
are permanently disabled for duty, and to furlough such requiring 
sixty days for their recovery. We humbly believe such an 
arrangement would relieve the government from a heavy expense ; 



112 REPORT OP THE GENERAL AGENT 

would preserve many lives, aud at the end of sixty days restore 

to the army a healthy body of men. 

With great respect, your humble servants, 

D. L. EOGEES, Agent for New York, 
L. E. BEOWNELL, Agent for Ohio, 
CHAELES F. KIMBALL, Agent for Indiana, 
GEOEGE C. SMITH, Agent for Wisconsin, 
NATHAN UDELL, Agent for lowa^ 

This application was promptedly responded to by Gen. Banks, 
and an order issued to send the sick to the hospitals at St. Louis. 
The board of examiners did not act with the promptness that was 
desired, and the hospitals continued much crowded to the time of 
my departure, on the first • day of August. On the first day of 
July, the number of soldiers in hospital from the State of New 
York amounted to 1,218, the largest number at any one time dur- 
ing my agency. Fortunately, the season remained extremely 
health}^, owing to the energetic measures adopted by Major Gen. 
Banks for the drainage and cleanliness of the city ; and I may 
remark that the improvements in drainage and other municipal 
regulations by Gen. Banks, has rendered New Orleans one of the 
cleanest, healthiest and most beautiful cities on this continent, and 
it will be resorted to by those who seek a southern climate for the 
winter. 

Finding that Government transports on the river were not in 
sufficient number, and of an inferior class for the accommodation 
of the sick, I made a personal representation to Gen. Banks, in 
company with Col. Kimball, of Indiana, when the following order 
was issued, so characteristic of his promptness and humanity : 

" HeadquartepwS Department of the Gulf, ) 

Neav Orleans, June 12th, 1864. ^ 

" 82)edal Order JSfo. 

" The Chief Quarterniaster will, upon the requisition of the 
Acting Medical Inspector of the Gulf, immediately seize such of 
the first class river steamers as may be required, and prepare them 
for the sick and wounded soldiers to be transported to St, Louis. 
No steamers are too good for transportation of sicJc and wounded 
men. N. P. BANKS, Major Gen. Commanding:^ 

In my report of May 19th, I state that "within a short time 
attention has been called to the sul)ject of property left by de- 
ceased soldiers. Unless claimed by a legal agent, it is sold, aud 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 113 

and the proceeds sent to Washington, I have claimed the right 
to administer, as the agent for the State of New York, on property 
belonging to the soldiers from that State. I am informed by the 
Assistant Adjutant General that it cannot be done, except by order 
of the Secretary of War. If I can obtain the right, much pro- 
perty may be saved to the families of deceased soldiers." 

On May 31st I made an application to Gen. Banks upon the 
subject of property of deceased soldiers, upon Avhich he issued 
the following order : 

"Headquarters Department of the Gulf, ) 
New Orleans, Mat/ 31st, 1864. J 

" Special Order JVo. 142 : 

[extract.] 
" 16. Dr. D. L. Eogers, military agent for the State of New 
York, is authorized, in the absence of legal representatives of 
officers and soldiers from the State of New York who may die in 
the department, to take possession of, and forward to the order of 
their families, such property as they may possess in the depart- 
ment, receipting to the officers who may be responsible for the 
same. 

"This order will not be construed as interfering with the exist- 
ing regulations in regard to the rendering of proper reports and 
inventories by officers who are responsible. 
"By command of Major General Banks. 

" GEOEGE B. DEAKE, 

''Assistant Adjutant General." 
From my instructions, dated December 18th, 1863, I beg leave 
to make the following quotations, as explaining a part of my 
duty : 

" The objects of this commission are : 1st. The care of the sick 
and wounded New York soldiers and an examination of the hospi- 
tals, and the correction of any neglect you may observe. Your 
reputation and experience will enable you to do these things in 
accordance with the rules of the ' United States Medical Depart- 
ment,' without giving any offence to the surgeons in charge. 2d. 
The sanitary commission will furnish clothing on your order. If, 
however, you experience difficulty in obtaining clothing from the 
sanitary commission, you will please advise me, and clothing will 
be sent to you from this city." 

In my report of May the 19th, I made the following statement : 
" In the retreat of the army from Eed Eiver, the soldiers lost all 
[Senate, No. 83.] 8 



114 REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

their clothes and descriptive lists, which has rendered it neces- 
sary for me to draw largely on the sanitary commission for 
clothes." 

On the 12th of July I made the following report : "The Sani- 
tary commission have but a small stock in this department, and 
my orders are seldom more than half filled. They have always 
appeared to comply with my orders with great reluctance, under 
the plea that my furnishing the new York soldiers with necessa- 
ries excited a jealousy with the soldiers from other states, who 
have not an agent here ; and to avoid that feeling, the New York 
soldiers should be allowed to want ! If possible, I could wish 
that the State might be independent of the Sanitary Commission, 
by purchasing its own supplies and giving them out as the neces- 
sities of the soldiers shall require. It is extremely unpleasant 
to have an inquisition held upon every order I issue, and for the 
agent of the Sanitary Commission to presume to judge to what 
object and to what extent the State of New York shall see proper 
to extend her care and protection to her soldiers." 

In m}'^ report to the department I had frequent occasion to com- 
plain of the want of surgeons, and only in one instance could I 
procure the detail of a surgeon to attend to sick and wounded to 
New York. It is, however, a deficiency that has been observed 
from the commencement of the war. No branch of the army has 
suffered more from incompetency than the surgical depart- 
ment. With a few noble exceptions, the army was filled with 
professional men without experience or qualifications as surgeons — 
many without any claim to medical knowledge. The want of 
surgical experience could be applied with good justice to the 
medical officers of the regular army. But few had ever seen a 
gunshot wound or performed a surgical operation. The ordinary 
camp diseases as fevers, diarrheas, &c., had been the subject of 
their care and attention. I beg to observe that the above remark 
is not made with any design to depreciate the medical staff of the 
regular array. I am happy to say that a large number are dis- 
tinguished for a high order of talent and acquirements ; but the 
deficiency proceeded from a want of opportunity to acquire prac- 
tical knowledge. In civil life we cannot estimate more than one 
medical man in a hundred physically and morally qualified to dis- 
charge the duties of an operating surgeon. We cannot estimate a 
larger number as composing the medical staff of the army. With 
a medical staff thus hurriedly brought together, the scene exhibited 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 115 

after a great battle, can well be imagined. It was but one vast 
field of experimental surgery. Each surgeon ambitious to perform 
his virgin operation, but without experience or judgment. On one 
occasion, among those who came by the invitation of the Secretary 
of War, was an apothecary with his box of instruments, seeking 
an opportunity to obtain some expei'ience in operative surgery. 

Thus it may be asserted, without the fear of contradiction, that 
our soldiers have been exposed to a most barbarous surgery. 
Many hundreds have been sacrificed to ignorance and life des- 
troyed by impz'oper operations, and a large number have been 
crippled for life, when by proper care their limbs could have been 
preserved. 

The general government will be held responsible for a deficient 
organization in the medical department of the army, but much of 
the evil will rest upon the medical officers of the old regular army; 
their jealousy of rank and a desire to monopolize all the high com- 
missions and honors. They sedulously labored to exclude all those 
called outsiders. It is well known that at the opening of the 
war that many surgeons of Iiigh distinction and long experience, 
tendered their services, willing to make every sacrifice to their 
country in its hour of trial. They were permitted to act for a 
time, as contract surgeons, without rank or station, and in some 
instances, acting as subordinates to their own pupils. I will not 
isay that a board of examination was instituted to exclude such 
from the service, but such was the effect. For the rule was im- 
perative that no medical man could enter the service without sub- 
mitting to this examination, without any regard to his character or 
qualifications. No surgeon of eminence could submit to such 
degradation, and most of them were driven from the army. I 
believe it is not the practice when the government requires an 
Attorney General or Judge Advocate to require them to submit to 
an examination. Chaplains were exempt from this ordeal. Gene- 
rals are chosen for their demonstrative ftierits. I cannot conceive 
why surgeons of well known merit and reputation should not be 
received into the service upon the same recommendation, and 
given a rank and station equal to their position in civil life. In 
the Army of the Potomac, under General McClellan, an attempt 
was made to organize a corps of qualified surgeons, after the plan, 
as it at present exists, in the English and French armies. It was 
•submitted to the Surgeon General and met his approval. The 
medical directors of the army refused to adopt it. I was informed 



116 REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

that it was subsequently submitted to Major General Halleck and. 
rejected as an innovation. 

The expense attending the agency from the 18th of December, 
1863, to the 30th of July, 1864, as per account rendered, amounted 
to twenty-two hundred and fifty-three dollars and ninety-nine 
cents ($2,253.99). 

During the months of June and July last most of the New York 
regiments in the Department of the Gulf were withdrawn and 
transferred to the Potomac, and on my departure on the 30th of 
July last but three (3) regiments of cavalry and two (2) batteries 
remained. 

Very respectfully your humble servant, 

D. L. EOGERS, 

Military Agent for JSF. Y. 



( No. 16. ) 
Report of H. Seymour. 

Buffalo, December 1, 1864. 

John F. Seymour, Esq., General State Agent for 

relief of Sick and Wounded^Soldiers. 

Sir — I inclose herewith a report of the sick and wounded New 
York soldiers in the various hospitals in the department of Ten- 
.nessee from April 22, 1864, to June 10th, 1864, embracing a list 
of 1,807 from our different regiments in the army of Gen. Sher- 
man. These were obtained on my first tour of inspection of hos- 
pitals at the southwest. 

Immediately upon my return I had these drawn off, showing the 
disabled soldiers from the different regiments. The list so pre- 
pared of each regiment, I at once transmitted to the respective 
counties in the State, from which the regiments came, and caused 
to be published in leading journals, in order to give the friends of 
such soldiers information as to their situation, 

I also inclose the monthly reports of New York soldiers admit- 
ted into hospitals at Louisville and vicinity up to and including 
the month of October, and like monthly reports of admission into 
hospitals at Nashville, Tennessee, as forwarded me from time to 
time by William S. Parkhurst, Esq. and Mrs. H. C. May, the 
respective State agents at those places. / 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 117 

I am gratified to be able to say, that nearly every week it has 
been my fortune to meet wounded soldiers on their way to their 
homes in this State, who have spoken of the kindness and atten- 
tion by them received at the hands of those agents. Several of 
the severely wounded in battles before Atlanta, were loud in their 
praises of the tender care and untiring energy of Mr. Parkhurst 
at Louisville, in having their wounds dressed and bestowing every 
needed attention. " He was up with me the whole night and acted 
like a brother," was the emphatic hmguage of one. It was grati- 
fying to me, and I doubt not will be to you, to have this kind of 
evidence that jj^our agents were not neglectful of their duties. 

In regard to duties at this point, no report which would be of 
public interest can be furnished. They consist of mere daily 
routine work. During the season the average number of soldiers 
passing through daily is from fifteen to twenty. Some two hun- 
dred to two hundred and fifty are in hospitals at this place. Those 
arriving from the west are usually furnished transportation to this 
point, and require attention to guide them to the Soldiers' Rest 
and procure for them further transportation to their places of des- 
tination. If too weak to proceed, they are carried to the hospital. 
Each day brings the call to correct erroneous papers, to obtain 
transfers from other hospitals, to secure furloughs for a son or 
brother, to write for lost descriptive lists, to obtain back pay on 
discharge for disability, to secure State or county bounty when 
still due, and to answer questions and solve doubts without number. 

I may add that Dr. Crispell, the United States surgeon in 
charge, is uniformly courteous, and desires to do all in his power 
to relieve from the numberless troubles which gather around the 
soldier's life. The appearance of the paymaster would afibrd him 
satisfaction and greatly comfort his hospital ftimily. 

I also transmit the report of Dr. J. A. Peters, who was sent 
with other surgeons to Tennessee, by your direction, durino- the 
progress of the severe battles in Georgia. 

Your contribution to the Soldiers' Rest at Buffalo, was worthily 
bestowed. A large share of the soldiei-s which have enjoyed its 
benefits have been our New York troops. Some 1,400 have beeij 
received and lodged there, and some 3,800 meals furnished to 
soldiers on their passage. 

Many of our soldiers from the southwest and lower Mississippi, 
have been assigned to hospitals at Memphis, and have received the^ 
faithful care of your agent, F. W. Bingham, Esq., at that point. 



118 BEPOBT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

A recent visit to the various hospitals west, enabled me to see to 
the distribution of voluntary contributions in that quarter, and 
gave renewed assurance that all in your power was being done for 
the comfort and relief of our soldiers throughout that depai-tment. 
The letters by you heretofore received from me, together with 
those annexed hereto from Mr. Parkhurst and Mrs. May, I beg 
leave to be considered as part of my report. 
Yours respectfully, 

HORATIO SEYMOUE, of Buffiilo. 

Galt House, Louisville, July 17, 1864. 
John F. Seymour, Esq. 

My Dear Sir — I arrived here more than two weeks since and 
immediately commenced my labors in the several hospitals in this 
city and vicinity. I have visited them all, together with their 
branches, except the eruptive ones. I herewith send a printed 
list of the different hospitals and their locations. I find in these 
several hospitals some 560 New York sick and wounded soldiers, 
most of whom I have seen and talked with. They are located as 
follows : 

In the Jefferson hospital, about 234 

Col. Holt hospital, about 57 

To tten hospital, about 78 

Brown hospital, about 48 

Clay and branches, about 40 

New Albany hospital, about 82 

Floating hospital, about 31 

In addition to these, we have in Camp Division about 100 ; at 
Madison, Indiana, 40, and Evansville 13, making over 700 in all. 
I have provided for the immediate wants of those here as well as 
I have been able. It is impossible to do justice to the New York 
men here without some means of convej^auce. The hospitals are 
at such a distance from each other — from one to five miles — that 
it is impossible to get supplies to them without a conveyance and 
hiring is out of the question. The prices are so high, $8 a day 
for horse and wagon, and $3 an hour for carriages. I want some- 
thing that I can send supplies in to the different hospitals, and 
the cheapest and best way would be to have a one horse am- 
bulance, and I think you could have one furnished me here by 
applying to the Quartermaster General. Everything here is 
exorbitantly high ; I have delayed renting an office for that 
reason ; I must have one and shall rent one at some price to-mor- 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 119 

row. I have been trying to persuade the Indiana agent to rent 
one with me ; I think he will do so ; he is now paying $600 for a 
yery poor one. 

I am at the Gait House ; their charges here are extravagantly 
high and I shall leave as soon as I can get an office and a good 
place to board. They charge me $90 per month. It will cost me 
about $3.50 a day to live here, including washing, &c. I shall try 
to find cheap board. 

Eespectfully Yours, 

WILLIAM S. PAEKHUEST. 

New York Military Agency, 
Louisville, /Sept. 3, 1864. 
Horatio Seymour, Esq., Buffalo : 

My Dear Sir — Yours written at Albany, was received in my ab- 
sence. I left here on the 15th ult. for the purpose of visiting the 
hospitals in Nashville, Murfreesboro, Chattanooga, (Tenn.) and 
Marietta, and at the front in Georgia. I found in Nashville Mrs. 
Dr. May, who was about leaving for New York. I think she is an 
excellent kind hearted lady, and as good an agent, with the aid 
of her husband, as can be had. At Murfreesboro, I found no agent. 
I visited all the hospitals and conversed with most of our men 
there ; they are well cared for and are all convalescent. The hos- 
pitals at Murfreesboro, are pleasantly located, and they have a vege- 
table garden of 85 acres attached which affords all the vegetables 
necessary for hospital use. There are in hospital fifty of our men. 
At Chattanooga, I met Dr. Seymour, and found him like all the 
Seymours, very much of a gentleman and ready to give any infor- 
mation and assistance needed. I visited the patients in hospital on 
Lookout mountain and found several good fellows confined there 
in the officers' department. All of them were doing well and are 
now being well fed and nursed much better than they have been. 
At Marietta, Georgia, I found no New York men, but in the field 
hospital at the front, I found 190 of our men, some of them dan- 
gerously sick. Out of that number only 12 were in hospital from 
wounds ; the others from fevers, diarrhoea and scurvy. They were 
all being provided for as well as could be expected with the means- 
they have at command. 

The surgeons at the front, and all the commanding officers say,, 
that much of sickness in the army would be prevented if they 
could have vegetables to give the men three or four times a week.. 



120 REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

It is liiglily important that vegetables be sent to men at the front. 
The Indiana State agent has purchased some 2,000 or 3,000 bar- 
rels of onions and potatoes to distribute to their men, and while 
there I promised our men they should be supplied with vegeta- 
bles. I want 500 barrels of potatoes, 300 barrels of onions, 200 
barrels of crout or cabbage, and about 60 barrels of vinegar, to 
distribute to men at the front. They can be bought here and at 
Cincinnati as cheap as anywhere. Money spent for these articles 
will do three times more good than it will in canned fruits and 
delicacies. The old saying that an ounce of prevention is worth 
a pound of cure, never was more truly verified than it would be 
by furnishing vegetables for our men. I hope, therefore, you will 
not fail to supply me with funds for that purpose at once. It 
would encourage and invigorate our men. I want you to purchase 
a buggy for me in Buffalo. I can buy a horse here but not such a 
buggy as I want. I should prefer a kind of Eockaway buggy, so 
that I could take a wounded man when necessary. Also attend to 
matter of vegetables and oblige 

Very respectfully yours, 

WM. S. PARKHUEST. 

Hospital No. 8 — Nashville, October 31, 1864. 
Horatio Seymouk, Esq., Buffalo: 

Sir — Allow me herewith to submit the following as my report 
for the months of August, September and October: 

During the mouth of August, from the 1st to the 17th, I labored 
constantly for the good of our New York soldiers, and furnished 
money and other necessaries whenever I deemed it advisable. 

On the 17th, in company with my husband, I left my field of 
labor for a short stay at the North, to recruit my wasted strength 
and enfeebled health. 

I return to my duties here, my health much improved, and 
impatient to enter again upon my labors. I visited hospitals when- 
ever I eould spare an hour from my arduous ofiice duties. Kind 
and constant attention to the sick and suffering I consider the 
most important of all my duties, and am never so happy and joyful 
as when I can do a great deal to lighten their Aveary burthens. 

Hospitals Are well located, well ventilated, and in most cases 
well kept, and the patients have all the care and attention that can 
possibly be granted to them where so few attendants are allowed 
as here in this department. 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 121 

The Sanitary Commission are doing all they possibly can do for 
me, in issuing supplies, and I am happy to inform you that the 
difficulty is entirely removed, and everything done to render my 
position here pleasant. 

I am much pained to know of the utter carelessness of officers 
in giving proper papers to soldiers being transferred from the 
field to hospitals, so that patients are oftentimes obliged to wait 
months before receiving their hard earned $13 a-month. 

Our hospitals are being filled up with the sick from new regi- 
ments; the sudden transfer from the cold bracing air of the North 
to this miasmic atmosphere is telling on our new recruits fearfully. 
I am, dear sir, very respectfully yours, 

Mrs. H. C. MAY, JV. Y. State Agent 

for relief of sick and wounded soldiers. 

Buffalo, August 19, 1864. 
John F. Seymour, Esq., State Agent for relief of soldi ers: 

Sir — In compliance with your request, I beg leave to submit, for 
mj^self and for Dr. H. Van Guysling and Messrs. Mackey and 
Abbott, the following report of our doings on our recent mission 
to the relief of the wounded in Tennessee. 

We left Buffalo on the 25th of June, and arrived in Cincinnati 
on the 27th. We then called on the medical director. Surgeon 
W. S. King, U. S. A., but finding from him that very few, if any, 
New York soldiers were in the hospitals under his direction, we 
considered it not best to stop to visit them, and proceeded to 
Louisville. We reported, on our arrival there, to Surgeon Shu- 
mard, U. S. A., assistant medical director, who told us there was 
a supply of surgeons both there and at Nashville, and that conse- 
quently we were not needed as surgeons. Influenced by these 
representations, with the assent of my colleagues, I wrote Hon. H. 
Seymour, of this city, advising that no more surgeons be sent on at 
present. We then commenced the thorough visiting and inspect- 
ing of the hospitals in Louisville, to ascertain the needs and con- 
dition of the soldiers of New York regiments, then believing this 
to be the only available Avay of fulfilling our mission. The fact 
was very soon developed that but little could be accomplished in 
this way to the benefit of the soldiers. Their needs in the way of 
food, medicines and medical attendance were as fully met already 
as they could well be, and their chief want, money, we were unable 
to supply. Under these circumstances we were seriously debating 



122 BEPORT OF THE GENEKAL AGENT ' 

whether it would be best to push on to Nashville or to return 
home, when we ascertained that Col. Wood, medical director of 
the department, was in town (a fact of which the assistant medical 
director had neglected to inform us), and we immediately reported 
to him. 

He received us with great kindness, and informed us that sur- 
geons were much needed at Nashville, and, at our request, gave us 
orders to report to Surgeon W. Clendennin, U. S. V. Medical 
Director at that place, for duty, which orders we immediately 
proceeded to carry out, arriving at Nashville on the morning of 
July 3d. 

Early next morning we reported to Surgeon Clendennin, and 
were all assigned to duty at Cumberland General Hospital, in the 
subiu'bs of the city. In this hospital we spent the remainder of 
our term of service, finding enough to do in the care of the sick 
and wounded there. Of the details of our duty there it is un- 
necessary for mo to speak here ; sufiice it to say that we worked 
hard, and received evidence that our labors were to the satisfaction 
of the surgeon in charge and the medical director. 

On the 23d of July, having received two telegraph messages 
announcing serious illness in my family, I asked to be and was 
relieved from duty, and started for home. 

My companions, showing evidence of being afiected by the 
unhealthy influences of the climate, I advised them to accompany 
me, which they did. I am sorry to be obliged to add, that they 
have all been prostrated since their return with typhoid fever, and 
could hardly have survived a longer exposure to the producing 
cause of the disease. My own health suffered severely from the 
recurrence of a malady originally contracted in camp, but not to 
the extent of my colleagues'. We arrived in Bufialo on the 25th 
instant, a month from the time of our departure. 

In regard to the condition of the sick, I must say they are as 
well cared for as the exigencies of the case will admit, and on the 
whole, probably better than they would be at their own homes. 

The tw^o great desiderata, it seemed to me were, more regular 
pay of soldiers in hospital, and a greater supply of medical officers. 
This latter need Avill be easily enough met when Congress will 
authorise the payment of medical officers a sufficient salary to 
support them, and not till then. One hundred dollars per month 
will but little more than support an officer at such a post as Nash- 
ville, and will do nothing towards supporting a family. Con- 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 123 

sequently medical men, who are dependent on their exertions for 
a livelihood, cannot enter the service. 

I had intended presenting some suggestions in regard to the 
management of State agencies, &c., but finding they have for the 
most part beert carried out already, I refrain from presenting them, 
and beg leave to subscribe myself, 

Very respectfully yours, &c., 

JOSEPH A. PETERS, M. D. 



(No. 15.) 

Letters of H. Seymour, of Buffalo. 

Department of the Cumberland, } 
Chattanooga, 31ay 20, 1864. J 

John F. Seymour, Esq., General 8 tate Agent 

for Relief of Sick and Wounded Soldiers : 

Dear Sir — Pursuant to the commission of the executive of our 
State, I proceeded at once to examine the situation and condition 
of New York soldiers, wounded or disabled, in this department. 
I have visited them in the various hospitals of Cincinnati, Louis- 
ville, New Albany, Jefifersonville, Nashville; and at this place 
every courtesy and facility have been extended by the medical and 
military authorities. Upon my arrival, some difficulty was expe- 
rienced in effecting the inspection, by reason of the transfers of 
patients then being made in various hospitals throughout the de- 
partment, in anticipation of expected battles by the advance of 
General Sherman's army. All who could bear transportation were 
being sent from Chattanooga, Knoxville, Huntsville, Nashville, and 
Louisville, to other hospitals in localities further north. 

I have found our soldiers generally in comfortable condition in 
hospitals (with some occasional slight exceptions), well conducted, 
finely ventilated, and with ample supplies. I was able to afford 
relief in many individual instances, which were gratifying. One 
great source of trouble is the improper transmission, or the loss of 
the descriptive list, as the soldier is moved from camp to hospital 
in the army's transfer from the Potomac to the Cumberlafad. This 
inadvertence not unfrequently deprives him of his pay for many 
months. The extent of the evil is illustrated by the fact, that at 
the Nashville post-oflfice alone over 650 of these descriptive lists 



124 REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

have accuimilated, which the postmastei' is wholly unable to dis- 
tribute to the different posts. It requires, of course, the aid of a 
proper agent to search out the facts, and relieve the soldier from 
the effects of these irregularities. 

At this point, I find my hands and heart full, as our New York 
wounded are brought from the battle-fields. The assistance it is 
in my power to render, is comforting to the poor fellows and grat- 
ifying to myself Many are assigned to the several hospitals in 
this vicinity. Where the wounds are less severe, they are sent to 
Nashville, Louisville, and othei- northern places. Our State regi- 
ments are in the 20th corps, as now organized, under General 
Hooker. Those now being received here from the front were 
"mostly wounded at Buzzard's Roost and &t the battle of Resaca, 
Everything possible is being done for their comfort. The forti- 
tude and uncomplaining endurance of the sufi'erers is indeed sur- 
prising. 

I will prepare and forward, as soon as time will allow, a full 
report of our wounded, and the hospitals to which they respec- 
tively are consigned. 

The sanitary commission carry out their arrangement, and 
promptly respond to all requisitions for supplies. 
Yours respectfully, 

HORATIO SEYMOUR, of Buffalo. 

Buffalo, June 10, 1864. 
John F. Setmour : 

Dear sir — I enclose letter written you while I was at Chat- 
tanooga, but, as I discovered by the public prints, that you were 
with the army in Virginia, I deemed it useless to then send it. 

I have had a very satisfactory survey of our disabled soldiers in 
the southwest. I found them in all the principal places — at Cin- 
cinnati, Jeffcrsonville, Louisville, Nashville and Chattanooga. 
They were cleaning out as far as practicable all the hospitals 
towards the front, when I reached Kentucky and Tennessee, to 
make room for the reception of the wounded from Sherman's army, 
which was already on the advance, still I was enabled to visit 
them in the various hosjDitals, and found them generally doing 
well and excellently cared for. There is a disparity in different 
hospitals, depending frequently upon the ability of the particular 
surgeon in charge. That at Jeffersonville, with capacity for 3,500, 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 125 

will be superior when fully completed. The Cumberland Field 
hospital, at Nashville, with its appointments, was on the whole in 
the best condition of any I met. Thousands from the recent 
battles are added to the number, filling all to their utmost capacity. 
The constantly arriving trains at Chattanooga, bringing the wound- 
ed for distribution, gave a realizing sense of the horrors of war. 
The more severely wounded were placed in the various hospitals 
there, while those less seriously injured were sent to the various 
hospitals further north. I was enabled to aid much in relieving 
the sufferers. It was gratifying to them to find there a State agent 
looking after their interests. I witnessed many touching cases of 
fortitude and endurance ; the uncomplaining spirit of the wounded 
struck me forcibly. 

I found Mrs. May at Nashville and delivered your communicar 
tion. I think her an excellent and efficient agfent. I obtained from 
her a copy of your agreement with the Sanitary Commission, and 
learned from her in detail the character of the difficulties. I sub- 
sequently had a full and satisfactory conversation with the Sani- 
tary Commission agent, at Nashville. I furnished him with a copy 
of the agreement. I found Judge Bort (who was in charge at 
Nashville), a courteous, intelligent gentleman. As I laid open the 
subject, he met it in a frank, manly manner, said he had never 
imderstood it, and assured me that no difficulty should exist in 
future. 

I subsequently explained to Mrs. May the result of our interview. 
She was highly gratified that the matter had been satisfactorily 
arranged. Supplies (without the requisition of any surgeon in 
charge), will now, on her request as State agent, be promptly fur- 
nished. I had the pleasure of seeing our soldiers receiving the 
benefits of such contributions. Upon reaching Chattanooga I was 
unable to see Mrs. Hovey, as she had left Lookout Valley, having 
accompanied her husband. Dr. Hovey, when the army advanced 
into Georgia. She returned to Chattanooga, however, before I 
left, and I delivered your letter, with its enclosure. Mrs. May 
spoke to me on the matter of increased compensation, and wished 
I would present the matter to your consideration. The expenses 
of living are very high in Nashville, she saj's, and I have no doubt 
truly, that the very lowest rate of board is $10 per week, and 
everything else is proportionately high. From my experience and 
observation of her duties, I must say, that I think the salary should 
be increased. On the subject of State agents in that department 



126 REPORT OP THE GENERAL AGENT 

I have something to say, but as this epistle is ah-eady long, will 
defer till my next. 

I will at a proper time forward a detailed report of number and 
localities of our wounded. Over 4,700 wounded were brousrht 
into Chattanooga before I left. Of our State regiments the 154th. 
134th, 149th, 136th and 141st were the largest sufferers. I have 
forwarded to localities of some of the regiments such information 
as to wounded as I thought would be of interest. 
Yours truly, 

HORATIO SEYMOUR, of Buffalo. 

Buffalo, Jan. 15th, 1864. 
John F. Seymour, Esq.: 

Dear Sir — I suggested in my last that I would write you on the 
subject of State agents in the western department. I think it 
important that an efficient, earnest agent be appointed for Louis- 
ville, Kentucky; that is a kind of transfer point. The wounded 
from the front, and furloughed and discharged soldiers are con- 
stantly passing, and ai'e continually exposed to numerous difficul- 
ties and mishaps, which seem to follow that unfortunate class. 
The care and attention of a faithful State agent would be of value 
there. I think the matter is carried to an excess by other States. 
I found local agents from Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan, at 
all the prominent points; Cincinnati, Louisville, Nashville, Chat- 
tanooga and other lesser places. Besides this, traveling agents or 
inspectors from nearly every State are found there. The expenses 
niust be enormous for such a battalion — board and everything else 
is so exorbitantly high; hotel charges are $3.50 or $4.50 per day. 
Still, in view of the number of our regiments in that department, 
and the numerous wounded in recent conflicts, agents at certain 
points are desirable; one would be of use at Chattanooga, but it 
is a horrible place to live in, and the expenses of living enormous. 
Perhaps the benefits would hardly compensate for the outlay; but 
at Louisville I think one is very desirable. Then an agent at this 
place is needed, as the gateway to the State from the west. Here 
the soldier from camp or hospital is first sent. It is a singular 
fact, that in nine cases out often, transportation for discharged or 
furloughed soldiers is given only to Buffalo, leaving the soldier 
here to look up the proper officer to forward him to the centre, 
northern or eastern part of the State; the number, too, is likely to 
be increased. As the hospitals are now nearly all filled to their 



FOK SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 12t 

utmost capacity more freedom is indulged in giving furloughs. 
In almost every case, wliere the wounds are such that the soldier 
can travel, leave of absence is given them to return home. The 
result is that large numbers from our own regiments must be 
making their way to this point on their route homeward. A suit- 
able agent here could occasionally visit Cleveland and soon learn 
of arrivals there, and make his arrangement at that point, to be 
advised of those coming in this direction. Their wants, through 
the benefit of the "home" now in successful operation at this 
point, could all be supplied. The State would thus be enabled 
to faithfully carry out its purpose of guarding and sheltering these 
war-worn veterans, returning from the battle field, some to die, 
and many of them maimed and disabled for life. At least this 
much shou.ld freely be done by our State. I hardly think agents 
ai-e needed at other points, for the reason that, when forwarded 
from Kentucky, all by some of the several routes are consigned to 
Cleveland and sent thence by car or vessels to this point. I pray 
for the time when the State may be relieved from the duty of 
caring for these poor sufferers; but from the sanguinary character 
of the conflicts, both at the southwest and in Virginia, I am satis- 
fied that the world will never have known such a harvest of dead 
and wounded as our poor land will present. 

Yours truly, 
HORATIO SEYMOUR, of Buffalo. 

Nashville, Tenn., Se'pt. 2Wi, 1864. 
Hon. H. Seymoue, Biffalo, JST. Y.: 

Dear Sir — I have not foi'gotten your visit to Nashville during 
the summer. It was pleasant to me, and, I trust, interesting and 
profitable to yourself and the cause in which you are engaged. 
Our work here is progressing, and successfully — as much so as the 
nature of the case and the fluctuating circumstances of the cam- 
paign will permit. Just now Forrest is interrupting our commu- 
nications with the front; but this interruption will be of short con- 
tinuance. We are full of hope for the future; the final struggle 
and triumph of our arms is near. Let us sustain our brave boys 
in the field a few days longer, and then the end will be accom- 
plished, -for which we all pray. Your agent, Mrs. May, pleasant, 
agreeable, lady-like and efficient, is here at her post. I see her 
every day, and know that she is active in the discharge of her 
duty. I have suggested to her, and repeat the suggestion to you, 



128 REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

that she should make Nashville her headquarters, and pass over 
the road occasionally to the front, stopping at intermediate places 
as may be necessary. To do this it "will be advisable that she 
have an assistant acting under her directions. I suggest this as 
the most economical and systematic mode of conducting the busi- 
ness of the New York agency in this department. Permit me fur- 
ther to say, that I hope and trust that you will liberally provide 
for the contingent expenses of Mrs. May. These are, here, neces- 
sarily considerable. If she is cramped and embarrassed in her 
means she will not be able to do half the good she could other- 
wise do. You need not fear she will be extravagant; that is 
neither her nature or habit. I am a New Yorker myself, and I 
desire to see the interest of my native State honorably sustained. 

These are my own thoughts, and I hope you will pardon the 
liberty I take in expressing them to you. We are brothers in the 
same noble cause, and inspired by the same motives of patriotism 
and benevolence. 

Please accept assurances of love and friendship from 

Your co-laborer, 

E. EOOT, 
Agent in charge of JY. Y. San. Com., Nashville, Tenn. 



( No. 17. ) 
Report of Wm. S. Parkhurst, of Louisville, Ky- 
To His Excellency Horatio Seymour, Governor of Jv'ew Yor/c: 

In compliance with the request of Hon. John F. Seymour, 
general agent for the sick, wounded and furloughed soldiers of 
the State of New York, I have the honor of transmitting my re- 
port of the business transactions of the New York State military 
agency at this place, since my connection with the same. I came 
here under commission of your Excellency to look after and pro- 
vide for the wants of the New York soldiers in the department of 
the Cum.berland, at Louisville, Ky., and to perform the general 
duties of military agent at this post, in June last. 

Upon my arrival here I found a large field open for labor. 
Nearly 800 New York men are confined in the hospitals. There 
had been no constituted agent for the State of New York located 
at this place, and consequently no one authorized to look after the 
particular interest of her soldiers, who, though kindly cared for 
by the officers and persons in charge of the many hospitals here, 



FOE SICK AND -WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 129 

were suffering for the want of those things, which only a person 
specially appointed can find means for supplying. I found here, 
however, Mrs. Dr. Horey, who had interested herself in their 
behalf, and had rendered much valuable service. 

My first business, upon my arrival here, was to ascertain the 
number of soldiers, and the location of the several differ- 
ent hospitals, and then to obtain an office, suitably and con- 
veniently located, to which the soldiers of New York might have 
free and ready access. In a northern city, one removed from the 
crowd and irregularities, consequent upon scenes of war, this 
would have been a simple and easy task; but I found it otherwise 
here, and for weeks could find no place suitable for an office, and 
at last it was only through the assistance of Thomas G. Fairleigh, 
colonel and commandant of the post, that I obtained one, located 
at 523 Sixth street, where I have since kept my office, which has 
at all times and upon all occasions been open and free to the 
soldiers of jSTew York. No sooner was the office opened than it 
became a place of resort to the soldiers in need, and, from a few 
at first, in August and September, as high as one hundred were 
frequently counted, as soldier visitors to the office of the agent, in 
a single day, with various wants and enquiries. A larger part 
would want tobacco, others clothing, some would desire letters 
written, or paper, envelopes and postage stamps. Applications 
for transfers, furloughs and discharges were frequent, and often- 
times a little money woidd be asked for and granted for some 
particular purpose. 

Besides these visits from soldiers, during the summer months, 
the office was visited by many travelers from New York, v/ishing 
recommendations for passes te Nashville and other points within 
military lines. Sometimes whole families, seeking friends and 
relatives in field and hospital, have visited us, and at all times we 
have given them whatever aid our position could grant; many 
times furnishing them with passes at military rates. Always 
keeping a register of the soldiers of New York confined in hos- 
pitals here; and furnished, fiicllities for answering enquiries, which 
could otherwise have been obtained, only through much delay and 
difficulty. 

During September a little incident occurred which was not 
entirely devoid of interest to us. It was that of a New York 
volunteer who had been in service in the army of the Potomac, 

[Senate, No. 83.] 9 



130 REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

and while engaged in one of the numerous conflicts which that 
army has sustained, was captured and sent a prisoner to Anderson- 
ville, the world-renowned slaughter-house of the Confederacy. He 
told the accident of his escape — how he was hunted by blood- 
hounds ; how he had eluded his pursuers by taking to streams ; 
how for several days he had marched shoeless and almost naked, 
with nothing to eat save what he himself could pick up in a barren 
and desolated country, and to hear the account of the suffering, 
deprivation and death of our soldiers there confined, from one 
who has himself experienced its tortures, far surpassed our imagi- 
nation with the more hoi-rible realities of prison life at Anderson- 
ville. We furnished him clothing, food and money, and he went 
on his way rejoicing. Several others have since visited us, all 
telling the same tale of horror and of suffering. 

During the latter part of October, and the few days in Novem- 
ber preceding the election, your agent procured furloughs for all 
the New York men in hospitals that were able to travel, and also 
for those on duty at this place, for the purpose of enabling them 
to repair to their respective homes to vote. Very few of them 
had money, and many of them had not been paid for mouths. All 
had long distances to travel, none less than six hundred miles, and 
many of them over one thousand miles, and it became absolutely 
necessary that they should be provided with a small amount of 
money to defray their necessary expenses on the road ; and small 
amounts were advanced by your agent, with a promise from most 
of them to refund the same on their return ; but, while to some 
two hundred dollars was advanced, very few have been able to 
refund ; and although it is never refunded to the State, the com- 
fort and gratification it furnished the poor soldier, will more than 
repay the trifling loss. 

About the middle of August last, hearing that there were many 
New York soldiers confined in hospitals south of here, and know- 
ing that we had no agent below Nashville, I visited the several 
hospitals in Georgia and Tennessee. At Nashville I found several 
hundred, at Murfreesboro about fifty, at Chattanooga quite a large 
number, and about two hundred in the field hospitals at the front, 
about Atlanta. Of the whole number confined in the field hos- 
pitals, there were but twelve suffering from wounds, the remain- 
der were suffering from scurvy, diarrhoea and fevers. 

When General Sherman left Atlanta for Savannah, he took with 
him the Twentieth corps, under Major-Gen. Slocum, comprising 



FOR SICE ANI) WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 131 

nearly if not all the New York regiments in this department, so 
that those now in hospitals are mostly old patients, and as fast as 
they become fit for field duty, are being forwarded to their com- 
mands. There will of course be some who will not be able to 
rejoin their command, and these should be transferred to New 
York. 

There is one subject to which I would call the attention of all 
those interested in providing for the wauts of the soldiers, that of 
procuring proper food for them. There is a large amount of 
money expended yearly for canned fruits and other delicacies, 
which, if used in procuring suitable vegetables, as onions and 
potatoes, would be much more useful, and prove far more benefi- 
cial in preventing disease. The principle of providing delicacies 
for the sick, is well enough, but when we consider the number of 
changes they are subject to, the distance and length of time before 
they reach the soldier, it will readily be perceived that they can- 
not be forwarded without more or less damage, and to be damaged 
a little is to utterly unfit them for the wholesome purpose for 
which they are intended. 

I cannot close my report without expressing my thanks to the 
ofiicers in charge of the U. S. Sanitary Commission, and the Ken- 
tucky branch thereof, fqr the uniform kindness and liberality they 
have extended to this agency since my connection with it. 

I should be doing great injustice to the officers of the general 
government at this place did I not also express my thanks and 
those of my State to them, for the urbanity and kindness shown 
me on all occasions, and for facilities furnished me in visiting the 
New York patients in the several hospitals in this department, 
and particularly to Col. Thos. G. Fairleigh, commandant of the 
post, and his gentlemanly assistants, for the many passes granted 
to the citizens of New York, thereby enabling them to visit their 
friends within military lines. 

I have the honor also to add, in closing, the following statistics: 
Whole number of applications for relief at this office since July 

1st, 1864 2,800 

Whole number furloughed 380 

Whole number returned to duty 443 

Whole number transferred 571 

Whole number discharged 17 

Whole number died 30 



132 REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

Whole number deserted 6 

Whole number now confined in hospital 300 

Eespectfully submitted, 

■ WM. S. PARKHUEST, 

JVew York Military Agent. 
Louisville, Ky., Dec. 30th, 1864. 



(No. 18.) 

Report of Mrs. May, 

Hospital No. 1, ) 

Nashville, June 7, 1864. ^ 
Mr. John F. Seymour : 

Sir — Allow me to submit the following report for the month of 
May, 1864, together with a general review of my duties and 
labors during the six months it has been my privilege to act as 
your agent, to relieve the sick and wounded soldiers fi'om our 
noble Empire State, now in the Army of the Cumbei'land. 

Since the late battles at Buzzards' Eoost, Resaca and Dallas, 
we have been constantly receiving patients from the front, and as 
constantly sending them on to Louisville, so that a large number of 
New York men have been under my especial care every day for 
the last four or five Aveeks, and I have the satisfaction of knowing 
that I have relieved many, very many, of urgent wants, and re- 
ceived from each one their deep heartfelt gratitude. They are 
mostly of them wounded in their arms and hands, consequently 
perfectly helpless. When they were taken to the field hospital, 
immediately after the battles, their clothes were toi'u ofi" them, 
and when transferred to 'Chattanooga no clothing furnished them, 
and when transferred to Nashville, no pants, vest, coat or shoes 
given them, and in many, veiy many instances, their money was 
taken from them, so that when I find them they are helpless in 
every sense of the word. 

The funds sent me in Februaiy are nearly all expended, or I 
should have purchased those things for them, but as far as I know 
no New York man left here without my furnishing him with 
clothing drawn from the sanitary commission, who I am happy to 
inform you have honored my requisitions, since Hon. Horatio 
Seymour visited here. They are, however, so constantly sending 
to the front, that it is almost impossible to get the things I stand 



FOE SICK AND TVOUNDED SOLDIERS. 133 

most in need of. I cannot draw any fruit or jellies, as tbey send 
every thing of that kind to the front. I have consequently been 
obliged to purchase such things, and shall soon be obliged to pur- 
chase more. 

Since the late battles, the large number of patients coming in 
have kept the ambulances constantly running, and the medical 
director sent me word it would be impossible to furnish me one 
mitil after the press of business was over ; I am consequently 
obliged to hire a hack, for which they charge two dollars for the 
first hour, and one dollar for every subsequent hour. Of course I 
shall only go to that expense when visiting the hospitals two or 
three miles out of the city. They are opening several new hospi- 
tals in the city and my duties are constantly increasing, yet I feel 
that with the funds you sent me, and what I claim from the sani- 
tary commission, I can do a vast amount of good. The hospitals 
now being opened are the ones closed last winter, after I came 
here — old No. 14, 12, 9, and the cavalry barracks three miles out 
of the city, beyond the Cumberland hospital, of which Mr. Sey- 
mour can tell you. I have had two hundred cards printed like 
the one enclosed, which I have had placed in every ward in every 
hospital in the city, so tlmt every New York soldier will know of 
me immediately on his arrival in the city. The men are so far 
aAvay from home they seem to appreciate all I do for them, though 
sometimes hard to understand why a lady should leave her home 
and come down here to attend to them. Yesterday an old man 
from the lOTtli New York Avas brought into the hospital No. 1, 
very badly wounded, his pants perfectly filthy, and so covered 
with blood that the flies completely swarmed around him. He 
sat in a corner all alone, looking at me as I went from one to 
another supplying their wants, giving them clean cotton shirts, 
cotton drawers, also dark Avoolen drawers to use as pants, while 
I had theirs washed for them. After I got through I went to him 
and said, what can I do for you? "Forme! For me! Oh! 
kind lady, I am so dirty." Well, said I, I will soon have you fixed 
up nice and clean, at the same time giving him some clean clothes 
and telling him to go to the bath room, then to the barbers, and 
I would settle the bill for him. He sat perfectly still, in wonder- 
ment, not seeming to understand me. I then told him who I was, 
and as he listened the tears trinkled down his sun-burned face, 
and he said he "never heard of such kindness to. a poor old man," 



134 REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

I need very much, as soon as you can send it, |300 or $400, as I 
shall be obliged to purchase clothing and also fruit. 

Hoping to hear from you immediately, and that my request will 
be accepted, I remain, truly yours, 

Mks. H. C. may, Mw York State Agent, 

in relief of sick and wounded soldiers. 

Hospital No. 1, 
Nashville, June 21, 1864. 
Mr. John F. Seymour : 

Sir — I hasten to acknowledge the receipt of your letter yester- 
day morning, mailed at Cazenovia, enclosing a draft for five hun- 
dred dollars ($500), and according to your instructions I have, 
made out my bill and sent it to Gen. Talcott, desiring him to for- 
ward the draft to my father. 

Enclosed please find receipt for one hundred dollars ($100), 
being my salary for May and June, as you direct. 

I am very grateful indeed for the amount sent to me, and be 
assured it shall be expended as you would most desire if you were 
here. 

I shall be obliged to purchase about one hundred pairs of pants 
as so many of the soldiers are brought in entirely destitute, and in 
many cases are sent off again before drawing on the partial descrip- 
tive lists which they have lately furnished for the emergency, and 
it was for that purpose I telegraphed to you for funds. I have 
seen many and many a poor fellow go away from this hospital 
with nothing on but drawers and shirt — no socks, pants, coat or 
hat, though no New York man has gone so to my knowledge. 

If any of our " aid societies " have five or six hundred calico 
shirts, I should like to have them forwarded to me immediately, as 
they keep clean longer than white ones, and look better though 
badly soiled. The Sanitary Commission is poorly supplied with 
l)ads and slings, ring pads, small and large, and good, thick, soft, 
square pads, are very much needed just now, and much sufiering 
is caused by the almost entire absence of them in the hospitals in 
this city. Hospital gangrene is spreading rapidly in some hospi- 
tals and everything once used must be burned. Linen rags, too, 
are very much needed. Whilst we are way off down here I some- 
times fear that our ladies north are not doing as much for our poor 
boys as they once did, feeling, perhaps that so much cannot be 
needed, but I hope they will banish that idea from their minds 
and go to work with increased vigor and send a large supply to 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 135 

this department. Only those families north, who are still permit- 
ted to sit under their own "vine and fig trees," with none to 
molest or make afraid, and enjoy the quiet, sweet and sacred joys 
of home, could spend one week, yes, even one day, in one of our 
hospitals here, and see for themselves the sufleriugs so patiently 
borne day after day of these soldiers, it seems to me they could no 
longer fold their hands in idleness, as I fear some are doing, but 
would share with us the aches and pains incident to constant 
" going to and fro," to the wants of these heroes who have fought 
so nobly for their koines and their God-given rights. I could not, 
if I would, return to our little quiet home., the dearest spot to my 
heai-t on earth, and leave so many, many suffering ones comfortless. 
'Tis sad, 'tis piteous, to see this suffering, but less would not have 
sufficed the purposes of God. "The future is the present of God, 
and to that future He sacrifices the human present." My heart is 
constantlj^ going out in prayer for them, and as long as God gives 
me strength, I shall spend it in ministering to their wants. We 
need the praj'ers and sympathy, in a peculiar degree, here in this 
department of the Cumberland of all true and loyal hearts to "stay us 
up " whilst we are so widely separated from all our hearts most 
fondly love, and in our lonely homes, our thoughts are ever of the 
north — its pure cooling breezes aud pleasant streams, and every- 
thing lovely in nature.. Our heart strings, like the Qioliau harp, 
are ever strung to songs of the loved, though far away, and each 
zephyr that blows wafts sweet thoughts ever homeward, home- 
ward. But I must not trouble you thus. Pardon me. Fresh 
fruit is very high here, but the poor boys, especially the amputa- 
tion cases, are constantly longing for it, aud I have purchased quite 
a good deal, though in small quantities, as v/e cannot purchase in 
large quantities. 

Your telegram is received ; sorry to trouble you ; I shall try 
to get my report in in time this month. Shall I send a list of 
names to you each month ? or to the Soldiers' Depot in New 
York? Respectfully yours, 

Mrs. H. C. MAY, 

N'ew York State Agent: 

Hospital No. 1, Nashville, Tennessee, > 
Jidy 1, 1864. 5 

Mr. John F. Seymour : 

Sir — I have the honor herewith to make my report for the month 
of June, 1864. 



136 REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

The press of business iucideut to an active camj)aign still con- 
tinues, and not a day passes but we are called upon to admit one 
or two hundred of the wounded into our already crowded hospi- 
tals. I mentioned in my last report the opening of more hospitals. 
Since that time old Xo. 12 has been re-opened, and the medical 
director has added two hundred to the Cumberland as " field hos- 
pitals;" also two hundred tents to Ko. 14, recently opened near 
the Chattanooga depot; also about one hundred tents to hospital 
No. 2. 

I have visited all the hospitals as often during the past month 
as I thought best, though not as often as any month before since I 
came here — the reason being that since my cards were issued my 
room is almost constantly thronged with soldiers from the different 
hospitals in and around the city to get necessaries either for them- 
selves or comrades less fortunate than they, who are yet confined 
to their beds. The men are all greatly embarrassed for the want 
of money — not having been paid off for six months; and being 
wounded, are sent here without their " descriptive roll." Conse- 
quently cannot draw their pay here. 

Enclosed I send you a correct account of my expenditures for 
the last month, and shall await most anxiously your reply, as I fear 
I am spending money rather too freely; though I feel assured I 
have not given to unworthy or ungrateful men. 

In most cases, the money given is to those circumstanced as 
above mentioned- — starting home on furlough — it being too hard, 
in my opinion, to see a soldier going home without even one dol- 
lar, when he has done his duty faithfully. to his country and per- 
iled his life for "the sacred cause." The weather is exceedingly 
hot, and the amputation cases need the best of wine and the purest 
of brandy to keep them up, and I have frequently purchased it for 
such cases, and such only. 

The sanitary commission fail yet to furnish me with canned 
fruits, jellies, Cologne, or bay rum — all of which are invaluable at 
this time; especially the latter, as the air is constantly tainted and 
impure, and the poor boys seem so grateful for anything to relieve 
them, even for a little season, from the terrible effluvia. 

Allow me here to make honorable mention of Miss Hattie A. 
Dada, of Fulton, N. Y., who was one of the very first ladies to 
volunteer her services as nurse, and most nobly has she done her 
duty in every instance; and as Mrs. B. L. Hovey has now left Chat- 
tanooga aiid gone to Louisville, Ky., and as we greatly need an 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 137 

agent at this place, I should be most happy to know of her being 
appointed agent for that place, or farther to the front, if you 
please. She has great powers of endurance, and is willing to sac- 
rifice anything, so that she may add to the comfort of the soldiers. 
She is well known by many of the surgeons in the army — all of 
whom appreciate her noble, self-sacrificing spirit, and do all they 
can to make her position a pleasant one. She knows nothing at 
all of my mentioning her name to you, though I feel assured she 
would be most happy to accept a position where she can do so 
much good as she would then be enabled to do. 

Mr. Horatio Seymour told me when he left Nashville, that he 
thought it necessary there should be more agents appointed in this 
department — hence my mention of Miss Dada. 
'Hoping my report will meet your approval, I close. 
Most respectfully, 

MES. H. C. MAY, 

JY. Y. State Agent for Heh'ef of 

8ick and Wounded Soldiers. 

Hospital iSTo. 1 — Nashville, Jidij 31, 1864. 
Hon. HoEATio Seybiouk: 

Sir — Allow me herewith to make my report for the month of 
July, 1864. I have visited all the hospitals in and around the city 
during the month, and have ministered to the comforts and neces- 
sities of many of our wounded soldiers. M}^ heart ever sympa- 
thizes with them in their troubles, and I am proud of the confidence 
they all have in me, and in my desire to do them all good. 

Many and many a sad but interesting case I might mention to 
you, were it admissible, all tending to show the practicability of 
sending State agents to these distant fields, for the relief of our 
own noble beys. 

In my report for the month of April, or May, I think, I urged 
the necessity of State agents drawing supplies directly from dif- 
ferent aid societies in our OAvn State, but he seemed to think best 
for us to draw from the Sanitary Commission. I Avould again urge 
it, as I know I could do a greater amount of good, and our boys 
would be far better satisfied, as I have often been asked if the 
things I was distributing were from our own State, with the 
remark from the recipient "I wish I could get something from our 
aid society, as my mother makes things for that society." 
Eespectfully yours, Mes. H. C. MAY, 

New York State Agent. 



138 REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT 

Nashville, September 30, 1864. 
Horatio Seymour, Esq.: 

Dear Sir — Owing to my late visit to New York State, and my 
inability'- to get my room fitted up until a few days since, an official 
report of my movements will not be necessary, and I therefore 
beg leave to omit the same until the first of November, when I 
hope to give a good account of myself. 

My health is almost entirely recovered, and I have visited 
several hospitals this week, calling upon very many old patients 
whose faces were familiar, receiving from them a hearty welcome 
back again. I also saw and comforted many who had been brought 
in since I left — all of whom assured me they had heard of me, 
and were heartily glad to see me. As my husband wrote you, we 
have secured rooms near the centre of the city, and but a step 
from the St. Cloud Hotel. I w^as obliged to go to considerable 
expense to make the room at all tenable; but, as it is iu the most 
desirable part of the city, and kindly allowed my husband, by the 
surgeon in charge of Hospital No. 8, where he is on duty, free of 
rent, I thought you would have no objection to the expenses 
incurred, as you will see at once when the bills are presented that 
everything purchased was absolutely necessary. I was obliged to 
be guided in my purchases by the quality of the articles pur- 
chased, as the cheapest furniture cannot be sold at auction as well 
as that which is well made and finely finished. When I mentioned 
to you, at Buffalo, that my expenses would be increased, as I 
intended to take a room down town, I had no idea at all of the 
expenses I would be obliged to meet. Board at a second class 
boarding house cannot be obtained less than ten dollars a-week; 
and, as my board was allowed me when at Hospital No. 1, my 
actual expenses are increased forty dollars a-month; and, inasmuch 
as everything necessary to furnish our daily Avants costs almost 
twice as much hei'c as at home, I would most respectfully request 
that my salary be increased, from the first of October, sutficicnt to 
cover 'the increase of my expenses as near as in your judgment is 
right. 

The agents of the Sanitary Commission arc very kind to me 
since my return, and seem anxious to give me whatever I desire 
they have in their rooms; but the soldiers seem so much better 
satisfied when they know the things come directly from their own 
loved State, and that they were gotten up by willing hands, and 
earnest of loved ones, and sent here especially for them, that I 



FOE SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 139 

desire very much to receive supplies from' home societies as much 
as possible. 

The keg of blackberry cordial has uot yet arrived, though I 
don't thiuk it can be time yet. Will you please send the blanks 
you mentioned, as Mr. Parkhurst had none. I will send in my 
bills of expenses as soon as the blanks are received. The list of 
names of New York soldiers I will also send in, in a few days." I 
shall be obliged to prepare the blanks myself, as I cannot get any 
here, and it takes considerable time jnst noAV when I am so hurried. 
I am hoping to receive four or five hundred dollars soon, as I have 
been advancing from private funds until now I am quite out. 

They are granting a good many furloughs now, and, as the boys 
have not been paid otf in a'long time, they need a dollar or two 
when they go home, which I have given them when I deemed it 
prudent. May I not hope to receive an immediate reply? And, 
be assured, any iustructions you may give me will be Avell and 
carefully carried out, and my duties here most faithfully performed; 
for I laiow that much good can be done, and many a sad heart 
made glad by the kindness and sympathy of your agents in these 
distant fields of labor. And let me add, that the name of His 
Excellency Governor Seymour will be gratefully cherished in the 
hearts of the suffering soldiers, who have been ministered unto by 
the agents in this department so kindly commissioned by him. 
Hoping to hear from you yevy soon, 
I am most truly yours, 

Mrs. H. C. MAY, JV. Y. State Agent 

for relief of side and luounded soldiers. 

Nashville, Dec. 14, 1864. 
Mr. John F. Seymoue: 

Sir— I have the honor to submit the following as my final report 
for the year 1864: 

This report must of necessity be similar to my monthly report, 
as I have always aimed to give you a pretty good idea in each 
report of my work here as your agent. 

Since Hood's sudden appearance at the gates of our cit}-, and 
the consequent falling back of our army from the distant fields of 
Atlanta and Chattanooga, I have been able to do a great deal for 
the comfort of our soldiers, in furnishing them with necessaries 
they have been deprived of for months. There have been several 
instances of the most heroic endurance of privations I ever wit- 



140 EEPORT OF TPIE GENERAL AGENT 

nessecl, Avliere the nolble fellows would endure fatigue, cold and 
hunger for the sake of remaining on the field with their companions 
in arms, instead of being admitted into hospitals Avhere there are 
no familiar faces to cheer them and greet them warmly. 

During the year there have been three thousand four hundred and 
seventy-four (3,474) New York soldiers admitted mto the different 
hospitals in this city, and I am happy to state that of this number 
but ninety-four have died; with but few exceptions, all these have 
been interred in " The Soldiers' Cemetery," all having government 
cofBns furnished, and all buried with appropriate services, con- 
ducted by some of the arm.y or post chaplaius. All the graves 
are marked with a plain white head-board, the name, rank, com- 
pany and regiment written on plainly, and the grave numbered so 
that friends can secure their remains if desired at some future 
time. 

I have tried and generally have visited each of the hospitals in 
the city and vicinity as oft as once a month, conversing with each 
New York soldier, and consequently have been well acquainted 
with all their wants. 

In connection with my duties at this post, I have visited hospitals 
at Murfreesboro twice during the year, and ministered to their 
wants, furnishing them Avith sanitary stores, and also advanced 
money from funds furnished me by yourself. 

I have received from the different commissions in the city dur- 
ing the year and distributed to the patients in hospitals the follow- 
ing supplies: 97 blankets, 92 comforts, 104 pillows, 279 pillow 
cases, 72 sheets, 1,128 shirts, 922 pairs drawers, 190 dressing 
gowns, 66 coats and vests, 1,000 towels and handkerchiefs. 160 
pairs socks, 202 pairs slippers, 360 pairs mittens, 72 eye shades, 
424 cushions and pads, 1,440 pounds Ijandagcs and rags, 196 pin 
cushions and housewives, 680 cans fruit, 80 cans tomatoes, 217 
cans concentrated beef, 524 cans condensed milk, 60 pounds crack- 
ers, 44 pounds dried beef, 15 pounds tea, 40 pounds white sugar, 
237 pounds dried fruit, 2 barrels fresh apples, 380 pounds corn 
starch and farina, 18 pounds codfish, 51 pounds butter, 44 dozen 
co-o-s, 557 bottles wine, 84 bottles Bourbon whisky, 8 bottles 
Catawba brandy, 12 bottles Catawba wine, 44 bottles ginger wine, 
100 bottles blackberry brandy and wine, 400 bottles cherry 
brandy, 186 bottles lemon syrup, 140 bottles raspberiy vin(;gar, 
81 cans portable lemonade, 90 gallons apple butter, 67 gallons 
pickles, 60 gallons sourkrout, 43 gallons ale, 50 dozen fresh 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 141 

lemons and oranges, 180 pairs crutches, 320 arm slings, 332 palm 
leaf fans, 900 books, &c. Besides the above, I have received a 
large amount of si ores from Col. Show, Indiana State agent, who 
has always cheerfully filled all requisitions sent to his office. I 
have also distributed 200 woolen shirts, 200 drawers and 100 pairs 
socks, 48 woolen chokers. I have received two boxes of stores 
from New York State, one from Cazenovia, one from Corning. I 
have advanced money to New York soldiers, the majority of whom 
were going home on furlough and had not been paid oif for several 
months, and they were therefore greatly in need of a few dollars 
to purchase necessaries before starting and also food on the way. 
Inclosed please find invoice of office furniture belonging to the 
State. I have received during the year thirteen hundred and one 
dollars ($1,301), all of which money, with the exception of two 
hundred and fifty dollars (|250) retained as salary, according to 
your instructions, has been most faithfully disbursed for the com- 
fort and well being of our soldiers. I received two hundred 
($200) by express yesterday, and after settling bills previously 
included, I have on hand at this writing one hundred and eight 
dollars sixty-five cents ($108.65) belonging to the State, and vv'hich 
I will send in accounts for the 1st of January, 1865, and refund 
the amount unexpended to you if I am not appointed the coming 
year. 

Thanking you most kindly for all your favors to me during my 
stay here as your agent, and hoping this report may meet your 
approval, I remain truly yours, 

MRS. H. C. MAY, 
JSTew York State Agent for Sick and Wounded Soldiers. 



( No. 19. ) 

John F. Seymour, Esq., Gen. Agent S. JV. Y. : 

According to instructions contained in the following letter, I 
proceeded to Sharpsburg in company with Governor Bradford. 

Albany, April 15, 1864. 
James M. Redfield, Esq. : 

My Dear Sir — I understand that Gov. Bradford goes to Sharps- 
bui'g next Friday to select the ground for a cemetery for the re- 
mains of the soldiers who fell in the battle of Antietam. I wish 
you to go with him and to act as the agent of this State in all 



142 REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT. 

things relating to the selection of ground and designs for the ceme- 
tery, and exhuming and interring the remains of our soldiers. I 
wish to have you direct your whole time aud attention to this mat- 
ter. To do this, may involve the necessity of removing to Sharps- 
burg aud taking up your quarters at that place. If the labors and 
expenses of this position at Sharpsburg are greater than those at 
Baltimore, they will be paid. You will be obliged to travel more 
than heretofore and the expenses thus incurred will be allowed to 
you. You will acknowledge the receipt of this letter aud state 
whether you accept the position offered you as soon as possible. 
Truly yours, 
(Copy) JOHN F. SEYMOUR. 

We selected as the most eligible site a spot known as " Lee's 
Hill," just on the skirts of and east of Sharpsburg, on theBoons- 
boro Pike, and concluded to take ten acres of the ground selected 
at one hundred dollars per acre. Eeturning to Baltimore, I was 
taken sick and proceeded to Batavia, N. Y. On my recovery, I 
addressed Gov. Bradford ; in reply he informed me that " our pro- 
gress in the matter of the Antietam cemetery was unexpectedly 
arrested by a communication from the legal gentleman to whom I 
referred the question of title, informing me of a defect therein. 
There was, as I hoped, some probability that the defect suggested 
might be removed, aud I was informed some weeks since by a citi- 
zen of Sharpsburg that arrangements had been made to that effect, 
but I have heard nothing of them from the counsel and until I do 
must suspend any operations looking to the lot we selected." Here 
the matter has rested, nothing being done by either party towards 
purchasing other land than that selected, siiice there is no other 
site as fine for the purpose indicated, near Sharpsburg, and we 
were constantly in hopes of having the defect in the title to the 
selected land remedied. I have constantly repoi-ted myself to 
Governor Bradford in person and by letter, as ready at all times 
to cooperate with him on the part of the State of New York, but 
could do nothing in the matter independently as the State of Mary- 
land had the refusal of the land and courteously had admitted the 
State of New York to an equal share in the purchase, &c. ; and it 
would not have been desirable to purchase other lands aud thus 
make two cemeteries where one was the object. 

I would respectfully refer you to certain letters and reports sent 



FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIEKS. 143 

you and the Governor, for further particulars, copies of which I 
have not by me. 

I am sir, respectfully, 

JAMES M. EEDFIELD. 



Copy of an Act authorizing the Purchase op Land for 
Cemetery at Antietam. 

At a session of the Genei-al Assembly of Maryland, begun and 
held at the city of Annapolis on the sixth day of January in 
the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, 
and ended on the tenth day of March in the year aforesaid — His 
Excellency A. W. Bradford, Governor — among others, the follow- 
ing law was enacted, to- wit: 

No. 237. 

AN ACT entitled -'An act to purchase and enclose a part 
of the battle-field at Antietam for the purposes of a 
State and National Cemetery." 

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland, 
that the sum of five thousand dollars be and are hereby placed in 
the hands of the governor to be used for the purchase and enclosure 
of a part of the battle field at Antietam, not exceeding ten acres, 
at one hundred dollars per acre, for the purposes of a State and 
national cemetery. 

Sec. 2. And be it enacted, that the governerbeaudhe is hereby 
authorized to appoint an agent in behalf of the State, whose duty 
it shall be to act jointly with the agent appointed by the State of 
New York and other states in superintending the work of enclos- 
ing the Antietam cemetery, and also of exhuming the bodies of 
deceased soldiers of Maryland and New York, and of other states, 
if required, and removing them from the difierent hospital grave 
yards, or other places of burial, within the enclosure of said 
cemetery, and that the bodies of those in the army of Gen. Lee, 
who fell, shall be buried in said cemetery in a sejjarate part of 
the cemeter}^ from those of Gen. McClellan's army who fell. 

Sec. 3. And be it enacted, that the said agent be empowered to 
assist in enclosing said cemetery with a plain and substantial stone 
wall, laid in lime-mortar, well coped and clamped, not less than 
four feet high and at a cost not exceeding three dollars per cubic 
perch; and that he also be authorized to act jointly with the agent 



144 REPORT OF AGENT FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 

of Ne'w York in contractino; with the governors of the different 
states, or their agents, for the removal and burial of their dead 
within said enclosure; and he shall be required to report annually 
to the Comptroller of the State the amount of his receipts and 
expenditures, with all the statements in detail, connected with the 
burial of the dead and the completion of the cemeter3^ 

Sec. 4. And be it enacted, that the said agent shall keep a 
register of receipts and expenditures, and return the same under 
oath, with the certificate and the seal of a magistrate or justice of 
the peace for Washington county, to the comptroller of the State, 
on or before the first day of January, eighteen hundred and sixty- 
five; and if the receipts exceed the expenditures such excess or 
surplus funds shall be applied to the purpose of improving and 
ornamenting the grounds of Antietam cemetery. 

Sec. 5. And be it enacted, that the aforesaid agent shall give 
good and sufficient bond to the State to the amount of four thou- 
sand dollars; and he shall receive as compensation for his services, 
in quarterly payments, a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars. 

Sec. 6. And be it enacted, that the governor be and he is hereby 
authorized to appoint a keeper of the Antietam cemetery, after it 
shall have been completed, whose duty it shall bo to protect the 
property thereof, to make all needful and necessary repairs, to 
plant, cultivate, and preserve the trees and shrubbery from injury, 
to prevent the defacement or mutilation of tombstones and monu- 
ments, and to hold the keys and have the general superintendence 
of the grounds, admission of visitors, and all the interior arrange- 
ments of said cemetery. And any person who shall destroy any 
of the trees or shrubbery, or mutilate or destroy any tombstone 
or monument in said cemetery or enclosure thereof, shall, on con- 
viction thereof before any justice of the peace, be fined not less 
than ten nor more than fifty dollars, to be recovered as small debts 
are recoverable. 

Sec. 7. And be it enacted, that this act shall take effect from 
and after the date of its passage. 



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